A House vote on healthcare legislation is likely to happen this weekend, Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Wednesday.

Clyburn, who had previously expressed skepticism that a healthcare vote would be held by this weekend’s informal deadline, changed his tune from just earlier this week.

“I think it will happen by this weekend,” Clyburn said of the timing of a vote during an appearance on MSNBC.

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Clybyrn had said earlier this week that the process could push past the April 4th Easter holiday, far later than Democrats had hoped for it to last.

The optimism from the third-ranking House Democrat could reflect a string of positive events in the past 24 hours, with several previously undecided lawmakers committing to vote for the health measure, and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) announcing that he’d flip his vote, and back health reform legislation.

Democrats have been working furiously to ensure they have the votes for their health reform package, with President Barack Obama delaying a trip to Indonesia and Australia to accommodate the House’s schedule.