Balance of Power: Why Obamacare Might Survive
Balance of Power: Why Obamacare Might Survive
(Bloomberg) -- Obamacare may yet survive the latest assault from Senate Republicans. And the weakness of Donald Trump, and his party's fears for the 2018 mid-term elections are to blame.
At least five Republicans say they're opposed to Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell's bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, which may go to a final vote by early Friday. He can only afford to lose two.
It's hard to imagine a phone call from the embattled president would persuade any of the rebels to switch sides.
One of the loudest “no” votes is Dean Heller of Nevada, the most endangered Senate Republican next year. While the party's base may hate Obamacare, many of Heller's Nevada constituents like it just fine. Turn off enough of those voters nationwide and the Republicans risk losing the Senate, the House, or even both.
We're a long way from that.
But if McConnell fails to pass an Obamacare repeal this week after seven years of promises, it's a flashing red indicator of the woes facing the party and it will make everything from tax reform to Trump's border wall that much more difficult to pull off.
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To contact the authors of this story: Andrew J Barden in Dubai at barden@bloomberg.net, Craig Gordon in Washington at cgordon39@bloomberg.net.