U.S. healthcare bill clears first Senate hurdle

WASHINGTON Nov 21 (Reuters) - A sweeping healthcare overhaul narrowly cleared its first hurdle in the U.S. Senate on Saturday, with Democrats casting 60 party-line votes to open debate on the biggest healthcare changes in decades.

In the first Senate test for President Barack Obama's top domestic priority, Democrats unanimously backed a procedural motion to open debate over the opposition of 39 Senate Republicans -- one Republican did not vote. The debate will begin on Nov. 30.

Their victory was assured earlier in the day when the last two Democratic holdouts, Blanche Lincoln and Mary Landrieu, said they would support the motion but would not commit to backing the final bill without changes. (Editing by Peter Cooney) ((john.whitesides@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202-898-8300; Reuters Messaging: john.whitesides.reuters.com@reuters.net))