Obama delays Asia trip to focus on on health care

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Source: Washington Post

Obama delays Asia trip to focus on on health care

By Michael D. Shear and Lori Montgomery
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, March 12, 2010; 10:28 AM

President Obama has delayed his upcoming trip to Asia by three days to remain in Washington for what could be the climax of his year-long battle for health care reform, his press secretary announced via Twitter this morning.

White House officials have been pushing the House of Representatives to vote on the Senate's health care measure by March 18, when Obama was set to take off for a week-long excursion to Guam, Indonesia and Australia. He now will leave March 21 instead.

Top Democratic lawmakers had publicly and privately expressed increasing doubt that they could meet the March 18 deadline, and press secretary Robert Gibbs acknowledged Thursday that the administration understood that the vote could be pushed back by a few days.

"The President will delay leaving for Indonesia and Australia - will now leave Sunday - the First Lady and the girls will not be on the trip," Gibbs tweeted Friday morning. Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha had been scheduled to join the president's trip.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031201713.html?hpid=topnews