Republicans are optimistic Obamacare repeal bill will be approved

Washington DC — Top Senate Republicans say their last-ditch push to uproot former President Barack Obama's health care law is gaining momentum.

But they have less than two weeks to succeed and face a tough fight to win enough GOP support to reverse the summer's self-inflicted defeat on the party's high-priority issue.

"We feel pretty good about it," Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a leader of the effort along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Monday.

"He's the grave robber," No. 3 Senate GOP leader John Thune of South Dakota said of Cassidy.

"This thing was six feet under" but now has "a lot of very positive buzz," Thune said. With Democrats unanimously against the bill, Republicans commanding the Senate 52-48 would lose if just three GOP senators are opposed.

That proved a bridge too far in July, when three attempts for passage of similar measures fell short and delivered an embarrassing defeat to President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

McConnell said he'd not bring another alternative to the Senate floor unless he knew he had the 50 votes needed.

Vice President Mike Pence would cast the tie-breaking vote.

A victory would let Senate Republican leaders claim redemption on their "repeal and replace" effort. The House approved its version of the bill in May.