The lobbying was furious on Thursday, as the White House and Democratic Leaders in the Congress tried to gain the votes needed to approve a controversial bill designed to limit the emission of pollutants that some argue cause global warming.

President Obama was at work through the day, both in public and behind the scenes, as he lobbied more moderate Democrats in favor of what Republicans have labeled the "cap and tax" bill, a play off the "cap and trade" moniker given to this measure.

Obama found some reluctance among Democrats, who don't like the idea of voting for a bill that some charge will lead to higher energy prices for consumers and even job losses in certain states.

"I can't stress enough the importance of this vote.  I know this is going to be a close vote," Obama told reporters during a short statement in the Rose Garden yesterday.

The cap and trade bill was definitely the hot topic in the halls around the House Chamber on Thursday, as lawmakers wondered whether Democrats would be able to secure enough votes for victory.

There were even rumors that the bill would be pulled off the schedule, but that might have been more of a "wish" for members ready for a ten day break from Washington, D.C.

Republicans blistered the bill, denouncing it as a massive energy tax, and a pet project of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"I've seen some pretty crazy things," said House GOP Leader John Boehner of his career in the Congress, "but I have never seen anything this ridiculous."

A week ago, there was talk of a vote by today, but Democrats were certainly short on votes at that point.  Since then, a lot of wheeling and dealing has brought more rural Democrats on board. 

Whether that's enough, no one was quite sure.

The odds are certainly stacked against this measure, as a Senate filibuster seems more than likely.

So, we'll see today if the Democrats can count to 218 in the House or not.

If you want to thumb through the bill - which has now been slimmed down to just under 1100 pages, you can see it at http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_hr2454.pdf

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