Pressure for Health Care Votes as President Delays Trip Abroad

March 12, 2010— -- President Obama postponed a planned trip to Asia today in order to stay in Washington during what looks to be the final showdown on the passage of a health care reform bill. But some analysts said that by postponing his international trip so that he can personally try to carry his signature legislation across the finish line, the president is putting even more of his political capital on the line.

The White House acknowledged today the reason the president is staying in this country is because the health care legislation in the House is so touch-and-go that he is needed to personally lobby wavering Democrats.

"I think everybody believed that him being here was more important," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said today.

In the last two weeks, Obama has made about 10 phone calls and had five meetings with House Democrats to lobby for the passage of the bill by March 18, the original departure date for his trip to Indonesia, Guam and Australia.

For the past week, Democratic congressional leaders have been telling Obama that it would be a bad idea for him to be out of the country during this time. They say he is needed in the trenches to help personally persuade wavering House Democrats as they try to pass the Senate bill.

The White House said today the president would leave for his trip on March 21, whether the bill has passed by then or not.