Democrats start countdown toward health care vote
WASHINGTON — House Democrats triggered the countdown Monday for the climactic vote on President Barack Obama's fiercely contested remake of the health care system, even though the legislation remained incomplete and lacked the votes needed to pass.
Obama expressed optimism Congress would approve his call for affordable and nearly universal coverage as he pitched his plan on a trip to Ohio, and congressional leaders showed signs of progress in winning anti-abortion Democrats whose votes are pivotal.
At the same time, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., among the bill's sharpest opponents, said he was "less confident" than before that it could be stopped.
"They'd have to be remarkable people not to fall under the kind of pressure they'll be under," he said of rank-and-file Democrats.
Some of the pressure was aimed at Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who flew aboard Air Force One with Obama during the day, then walked into a senior citizen center with the chief executive in time to hear a voice from the audience yell out, "Vote yes."
A smiling Obama turned to the liberal lawmaker and said, "Did you hear that, Dennis?" Then, turning back to the audience, he added, "Go ahead, say that again."
"Vote yes!" came back the reply.
Kucinich, who said later he remains uncommitted, is one of 37 Democrats currently in the House who voted against Obama's legislation when it cleared the House last fall.
In addition, the White House is laboring to hold the support of several other Democrats who voted for the earlier bill, but only after first supporting strict anti-abortion limits that would be altered the second time around.
At least two have signaled they are open to supporting the president when the vote comes. One of them, Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota, is "in the leaning yes column," said a spokesman, John Schadl.
"When we bring the bill to the floor, then we will have the votes," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Obama sounded similarly confident in an interview with ABC News. "I believe we're going to get the votes, we're going to make this happen," said the president, who has traveled to three states and lobbied numerous lawmakers in recent days.
Outside interests on both sides sought to prevail on wavering lawmakers.
The National Right to Life Committee, which opposes abortions, wrote to lawmakers that support for the Senate bill would be a "career-defining pro-abortion vote."
Union groups and other supporters announced a $1.3 million advertising campaign urging 17 House Democrats to vote for the measure, and officials at the Service Employees International Union threatened to withdraw support from Democrats who vote against the bill if it loses.
