With only 24 hours to go before the big health reform vote, the White House and Dem leaders say they're within striking distance of the magic 216 needed to pass it in the House vote on Sunday.
Making Obama's job a lot harder is the stubborn opposition -- or vacillation -- of Southern Democrats. So far, 13 of the 26 Democrats who are expected to vote against the bill tomorrow hail from Southern states.
And while wavering Dems from other parts of the country have been slowing coming into the "yes" column, key Southern representatives have refused to budge, either solidifying their "nay" stance or declining to commit.
Here's the latest on where 20 key members of the Southern delegation stand ("voted" column is their vote on last year's House health bill):
Representative | Voted | The Latest | The Buzz |
Barrow, J (GA) | No | No (AJC, 3/19) | Progs ask: In a Dem-leaning district, why? |
Berry, M (AR) | Yes | Undecided (NYT, 3/20)
| Hinges on abortion compromise; retirement makes vote easier
|
Boucher, R (VA) | No | Undecided (T-N, 3/20) | Medicare reimbursement is the sticking point |
Bright, B (AL) | No | No (MA, 3/20) | "We cannot afford the massive cost" |
Boyd, A (FL) | No | Yes (WaPo, 3/19) | "This is good policy" |
Chandler, B (KY) | No | No (LCJ, 3/20) | Won last election by +30 points |
Childers, T (MS) | No | No (MCL, 3/20) | "Deeply concerned" about cost; abortion |
Cuellar, H (TX) | Yes | Yes (PL, 3/20) | Issued a Sat statement saying "yes" |
Davis, A (AL) | No | No (MA, 3/20) | Eyes on guv race; Black Caucus angry |
Davis, L (TN) | No | Undecided (TFP, 3/20) | Getting bashed by GOP on cost |
Edwards, C (TX) | No | No (DMN, 3/18) | Worried about his "political future" |
Kissell, L (NC) | No | No (WRAL, 3/20) | Netroots favorite now not so popular
|
Kosmas, S (FL) | No | Yes (WaPo, 3/19) | One of 2 big Fla pickups for White House
|
Marshall, J (GA) | No | No (AJC, 3/19) | Always a long shot
|
Mollohan, A (WV) | Yes | Undecided (NYT, 3/19) | Dems hopeful |
Ney, G (VA) | No | Undecided (RTD, 3/19) | Dems sweating this one; says "cost" is the issue |
Ortiz, S (TX) | Yes | Likely Yes (TM, 3/19) | Not official, but Dems counting on a yes |
Perriello, T (VA) | Yes | Yes (WaPo, 3/19) | Another big Friday pick-up |
Rahall, N (WV) | Yes | Undecided (CG, 3/19) | Abortion making him a tough get |
Tanner, J (TN) | No | Undecided (TFP, 3/19) | Tough but Dems hopeful |
We'll be keeping this threat updated here at DKos and
Facing South, so stay tuned and let us know your updates in the comments!
UPDATES: The Hill says it's down to 20 key House votes as of 2:25 pm 3/20. They include: Berry (AR), Boucher (VA), Rahall (WV), Cuellar (TX), Davis (TN), Tanner (TN), Mollohan (WV), Nye (VA), Rodriguez (TX). That's nine Southerners on a list of 20.
Here are the other Southern Dems that are already confirmed "no":
Ross, M (AR)
Melancon, C (LA)
Taylor, G (MS)
McIntyre, M (NC)
Shuler, H (NC)