Dems' campaign chief says incumbents won't face defeat for health vote

Democratic lawmakers facing tough reelections won't be met with defeat this fall because of their healthcare vote today, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Sunday.

Van Hollen, who, as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), oversees the party's midterm election efforts in the House, rejected the idea that incumbents could be hurt by voting for the bill.

"No they're not facing defeat," Van Hollen said during an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation."

A number of Democrats, including many in competitive House districts, have announced that they will vote against health reform legislation during this afternoon's vote.

Van Hollen, who also serves as a member of the House Democratic leadership, asserted that once benefits from the bill's enactment become known, it would ease any political pressure on those lawmakers.

"Once we pass this bill, everyone's going to see that all those horror stories aren't going to come true," he said. "In fact, they're going to begin to see the benefits."