Karl Rove: 40 percent chance health reform will pass

Karl Rove said Monday there is a 40 percent chance that Democrats will pass comprehensive healthcare reform this year.

During an appearance on the O'Reilly Factor, Rove said while the odds are in favor of the GOP defeating health reform, "I wouldn't bet the ranch on it."

Rove said passage will come down to a few votes, adding that the biggest hurdles for Democrats to clear are the bill's price tag and abortion.

Hours earlier on another Fox News show, former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) told host Neil Cavuto that he thinks Democrats will probably pass health reform. While stressing he is against the bill, Lott said the pressure to pass it and the legislative favors that can be traded for votes will be an asset to Democratic leaders.

This post was updated at 7:45 a.m. on March 16.

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