ON THE EVE OF THE HEALTH-CARE SUMMIT – AT 7:05 P.M. ET:  The health-care summit will be held tomorrow.  No one expects much.

The fact is that Democratic defections, not GOP opposition, may well kill the president's bill.  We reported Byron York's head count earlier today, indicating that the bill will probably lose in the House.  Here, from The Hill, is direct evidence from a key House member:

There are 15-20 House Democrats who are withholding their support for President Barack Obama's healthcare proposal, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said Wednesday.

Stupak led a broad coalition of anti-abortion Democrats in November, demanding that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) include tough abortion restrictions in the lower chamber's legislation lest she lose a chance of passing the bill.

The Michigan Democrat has voiced unhappiness with the president's plan because it upholds the Senate's abortion language, which he says is too loose and could allow federal dollars to pay for abortion procedures.

But Stupak said that the group of 15-20 Democrats oppose it not just because of the abortion provisions.

Asked on Fox News if he thinks the president's fixes will pass the House, Stupak said, "Despite the abortion language, no, there are other problems with this bill...[I have spoken to] probably about 15 or 20 of them in the last 24 hours; they've said there are other problems with this bill."

Stupak's remarks come after House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) Wednesday morning predicted that Democrats would fall 14 votes short of passing the bill.

COMMENT:  This is a great chance for the Republicans to come to the table tomorrow with a bill of their own.  Let's see what they spring.

It's incredible, that a year after Obama was anointed as savior of the nation, he can't get his signature bill through a heavily Democratic congress.  What power.  What influence.  What governing skill.

As head of a student government, Barack Obama is tops.

February 24, 2010