Democrats push toward Sunday vote on health care

WASHINGTON (AP) — Slowly but steadily, support is building behind President Barack Obama's health care legislation in the House, the result of intense lobbying and politically targeted changes aimed at reassuring waverers and winning over critics.

Obama himself was to talk up the sweeping overhaul in a midday speech Friday in Virginia, his fourth outside-the-Beltway event in two weeks as he scrambles to rally the public ahead of a climactic vote this weekend. On Capitol Hill, congressional leaders were focusing on those rank-and-file Democrats, including moderates and opponents of abortion, who remained undecided after the release Thursday of a final package of changes to the massive 10-year, $940 billion legislation.

"Every vote around here is a heavy lift," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said. "We don't have a rubber-stamp Congress or a rubber-stamp (Democratic) caucus. So, we have our full airing of issues."

The White House and Democratic leaders trumpeted two new converts to their cause, as retiring Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., and first-term Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., announced their support after opposing an earlier version of the legislation last year. Markey cited improved deficit cuts. Gordon said his backing was unrelated to a new provision sending higher Medicaid payments to Tennessee hospitals that treat large numbers of uninsured.

As rumors flew around the House chamber of more possible opponents-turned-supporters — and also of previous "yes" voters who might withdraw their support — Pelosi worked her members, seeking out lawmakers individually or in small groups on the House floor to try to win them over. With Republicans unanimously opposed after a year of corrosive debate, the vote set for Sunday was expected to be a cliffhanger, and Democratic leaders don't yet command the 216 commitments they need.