Obama Pool Report for Friday, July 17

POTUS vows to win passage of health care reform this
year.

POTUS entered Diplomatic Room at 4:03 p.m. -- 48 minutes behind schedule
and about an hour after pool was led in. He spoke to the pool for just
over 9 minutes.

"Let me repeat: Health insurance reform cannot add to our deficit over
the next decade and I mean it," Obama said.

He used a sports metaphor to make case for action this year.

"I realize that the last few miles of any race are the hardest run but I
have to say now is not the time to slow down and now is certainly not
the time to lose heart. Make no mistake if we step back from this
challenge -- at this moment -- we are consigning our children to a
future of skyrocketing premiums and crushing deficits. There's no
argument about that."

He added: "We're going to have to get this done. If we don't get health
care reform done now, then no one's health insurance is going to be
secure because you are going to continue to see premiums going up."

"That's why those who are betting against this happening this year are
badly mistaken. We are going to get this done. We will reform health
care. It will happen this year."

He ignored a question from CNN's Ed Henry about pushing back a deadline
as he left the room.

Per Josh Earnest of the White House Press Office: Obama met with 40
House freshmen Democrats earlier today on health care, and also held
meetings with Sens. Bayh, D-Indiana, and Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

Yesterday POTUS held separate meetings with Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.,
and Olympia Snowe, R-Me. On Wednesday he met with Sens. Bob Corker,
Saxby Chambliss and Lisa Murkowski.
Spotted in the back of the room during POTUS speech were Eric Lesser,
special assistant to David Axlerod, and Mrs. Susan Axlerod -- but no
David Axlerlod.