Massachusetts election

Massachusetts election
WASHINGTON -- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says the Senate health care bill is better than Congress failing to deliver on President Barack Obama's top domestic initiative.

The Maryland Democrat told reporters Tuesday: "The Senate bill clearly is better than nothing."

He declined to say whether the House could pass the Senate bill, one possible way lawmakers might proceed if Democrats lose the Massachusetts Senate election Tuesday. The seat represents the 60th vote for health care in the Senate.

Hoyer said negotiators still hadn't resolved all of the outstanding issues to finalizing a bill.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats prepared for the worst and hoped for the best Tuesday, as the fate of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul hung on the outcome of a Massachusetts election that was too close to call.

If Republican state Sen. Scott Brown defeats Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley, it would put the seat held by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in the hands of a committed opponent of the bill, depriving Democrats of the 60-vote majority needed to pass health care in the Senate. After more than a year of tortuous effort to produce signature legislation, Democrats would have no good options.
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Health care was at the top of the agenda Tuesday for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who scheduled meetings with her top lieutenants and the full Democratic caucus. The evening meeting with rank-and-file Democrats would coincide with the closing of the polls in Massachusetts.

Pelosi, D-Calif., says there will be no wavering on health care.

"Let's remove all doubt," Pelosi told reporters Monday in her hometown of San Francisco. "We will have health care one way or another."

"I heard the candidate in Massachusetts, the Republican candidate, say, 'Let's go back to the drawing board,'" she continued. "The drawing board for the Republican Party on health care is to tear it up and throw it away, and shred it and never revisit it. This is the opportunity of a generation. If this opportunity is not realized, there won't be health care for all Americans."

As recently as Friday it seemed as if Democratic congressional leaders and Obama were close to a deal that would remove remaining obstacles to final passage of the bill in the House and Senate. The political equation would get turned upside down if Democrats lose the Massachusetts seat.