Mr. Blunt had been expected to face a difficult re-election bid, appearing headed for a battle with Jay Nixon, a Democrat, the state's attorney general.
But the deputy prime minister is expected to face a difficult conference next year if his ratings have not improved by then.
David A. Paterson, the momentum-starved governor who is expected to face a difficult primary challenge from Andrew M. Cuomo, the popular attorney general, calls Mr. Cuomo on Wednesday evening to ask him to investigate a matter so important it could lead to the governor's political undoing.
Democratic leaders said they expected to face a series of unusually difficult procedural votes before the vote on the bill itself.
The case is expected to face legal hurdles as well.
The regulators in particular are expected to face stricter scrutiny.
The three were expected to face deportation proceedings.
The merger is not expected to face regulatory hurdles.
He is now expected to face execution by firing squad.
Groubert is expected to face trial in July.
