Republican Scott Brown is running strong in Massachusetts on a promise to be the 41st vote against health care in the Senate. Democrats' bigger worry right now is whether Mr. Brown might prove the 218th vote against health care in the House.
The drama of a Christmas Eve health vote left the country with a feeling of ObamaCare inevitability. The Senate was, after all, the heavy lift. If the White House could just bag Nebraska's Ben Nelson and other Senate teases, this debate would be over, save the regulating. A brief ping-pong between the chambers, and Mr. Obama would have his State of the Union triumph.
Political memories are short. Think back to November, when Nancy Pelosi was attempting her own clean-and-jerk of health care. It took three weeks of bribes, cajoling and threats for speaker to eke out a three-vote margin. The action is now back in the House and here's what Ways and Means don Charlie Rangel had to say about it this week: We've got "a serious problem."
The biggest problem is that January isn't November. In November, when moderates such as California's Dennis Cardoza were being squeezed for last-minute yes votes, they could take solace that the public was still open to congressional action. This week's Quinnipiac poll has 34% of respondents "mostly" approving the bill. A token 26% of independents back it. In November, House Democrats were being reassured by a relatively popular president. Gallup this week has a mere 37% of Americans approving of his handling of health care. The president has moved from asset to liability.
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