Washington (CNN) -- While 39 House Democrats voted with Republicans on a proposed fix to canceled insurance policies under Obamacare on Friday, sources on both sides said more would have defected without President Barack Obama's mea culpa over the mess. As it is, the vote is an embarrassment for the President, but it could have been worse. Another 18 defectors could have given Republicans a veto-proof majority and ammunition to really pressure the Democratic-controlled Senate to take up the measure. But senior Democratic aides said that might have been possible before Thursday. That's when Obama took action on his own, met with reporters to talk about it, and dispatched his Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, to Captiol Hill to meet with Democratic lawmakers.
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NEW: Obama and CEOs discuss steps to address policy cancellations, White House says
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The House votes on a bill to address canceled insurance plans
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Biden campaigns in NC with Sen. Hagan, who has pushed for changes to Obamacare
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Thirty-nine Democrats vote for GOP House bill aiming to reverse canceled policies
"I feel deeply responsible for making it harder for them," @placeholder said on Thursday about Democrats who supported his bill and now face tougher reelection bids because of the law's difficult beginning.