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  Obama Brings Dennis Kucinich on Air Force One for Health Care Speech
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ContributorCraverguy 
Last EditedCraverguy  Mar 15, 2010 12:29pm
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CategoryNews
AuthorSam Stein
News DateTuesday, March 16, 2010 05:35:00 AM UTC0:0
DescriptionTraveling to the Cleveland area to make yet another major speech for passing health care reform into law, President Barack Obama chose as a travel companion one very skeptical lawmaker.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is from the area where Obama is speaking. That would normally make his appearance on Air Force One Monday morning a non-event. But the Ohio Democrat also happens to be one of, if not the only progressive holdout in the House, on health care legislation. And he has hinted strongly that his vote, which could be the deciding margin, is firmly in the "no" camp.

The White House pool reporter on the trip did not get an immediate readout of any conversation between Kucinich and Obama. Though accompanying the two on the trip was Phil Schiliro, the president's liaison to Congress.

A White House aide said that this trip would be the last one outside of D.C. that the president will make before heading overseas on March 21. All other lobbying efforts will be conducted inside the beltway via "member meetings and phone calls" such as the one that already took place between Obama and Rep. Scott Murphy (D-N.Y.).

The aide did seem somewhat buoyed by recent news that a group of anti-abortion lawmakers seemed to have lessened their opposition to the bill. And there was, likewise, a bit of optimism that the concerns expressed by Hispanic and conservative Democratic lawmakers would dissipate as the House vote approached.

"We've seen some helpful remarks from these folks in recent days," the aide said.
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