国际英语新闻：Obama gives Democrats pep talk on eve of health vote

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday gave congressional Democrats a pep talk before a make-or- break vote Sunday on health insurance reform on the floor of House of Representatives, urging them to pass the reform.

As Democrats say they have the 216 "yes" votes to pass the bill, Obama made the trip from the White House to the Capitol Hill down Pennsylvania Avenue on Saturday afternoon, rallying House Democrats to the party line.

Calling the reform "the single most important step that we have taken on health care since Medicare," which was introduced in 1965, Obama called for Democrats to "get this done."

Admitting the process has been "a difficult process," Obama said, "it is time to pass health care reform for America, and I am confident that you are going to do it tomorrow."

The bill seemed to be hanging by a thread just days ago, with politically vulnerable Democrats worrying about its potential damage to their re-election later this year. But as Democratic leaders worked the rank-and-file, and Obama weighed in personally, the balance has been shifting to his side in the past few days.