In the end, Minnesota Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken had little choice but to go along with the debt deal that passed 74-26 Tuesday in the U.S. Senate. Both senators said the hard-fought deal would reduce the deficit and put the nation on the path to fiscal responsibility. But neither was happy about the final endgame of the deal, which President Obama is expected to sign later today.

"Unfortunately, in a game of chicken, the player most concerned about protecting the full faith and credit of the United States is put in the most difficult position," Franken said in a statement released before the House vote on Monday. Said Klobuchar: "While it is certainly not a perfect plan, the time has come to break through the partisan stalemate and pass a solution that provides certainty so we can move our country forward."