Barack Obama threatens to withdraw support from wavering Democrats

By Alex Spillius,UK Telegraph

 Obama says he won’t raise money or campaign unless you vote for his healthcare bill

The president will refuse to make fund-raising visits during November elections to any district whose representative has not backed the bill.

A one-night presidential appearance can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds which would otherwise take months to accumulate through cold-calling by campaign volunteers.

Mr Obama’s threat came as the year-long debate over his signature domestic policy entered its final week.

Mr Obama is personally telephoning congressmen who are still on the fence this week,in between several personal appearances devoted toward swinging public opinion.

Yesterday he visited Strongsville,Ohio,home of cancer patient Natoma Canfield,who wrote to the president she gave up her health insurance after it rose to $8,500 (£5,600) a year. Mr Obama repeatedly has cited the letter he received from the self-employed cleaning worker to illustrate the urgency of reform.

Though Congress has already ignored several deadlines set by the president,March 21 is being treated by all sides the final target date,at which time all options would have been exhausted. The president has postponed an overseas trip by three days to see reform through.

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