Dems sweating over health care uproar

Politico is reporting that the Democrats are getting nervous over health care reform.

The comeback for Democrats — if there is one — will begin in an all-important closed-door caucus meeting next week in the basement of the Capitol, where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her top lieutenants will try to undo the damage of the August recess and convince their wobbly members that a vote for health care reform will not cost them their jobs in 2010.

Leaders say their strategy is to convince members that nothing is set in stone and that they are more than open to negotiations. And they're engaging in a softer sell, prioritizing health insurance reforms while pitching the public option as something that's way, way down the road.

"We're going to ask, 'Where are you now? Is there something we need to add to get [you] to vote for this?'" said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is charged with ensuring that the party's most vulnerable members are reelected in 2010.

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