Democrats are looking to take advantage of reports that President Donald Trump called the Republican healthcare proposal "mean."
Trump made the comment in private conversation with senators last week, congressional sources said.
The Democratic Party plans to note the comment in speeches, conferences, and social media and "we will be weaving 'mean' into the broader attack in a prominent way," an aide told Politico.
"You can almost see the ads being written already," a GOP aide told Politico.
The fight for healthcare reform is a more prominent issue than alleged ties with Russia or obstruction of justice, aides told Politico, but moderate Republicans, however, have said the comment could help them pass the health legislation.
"I think it's unifying. At the end of the day, it's helpful for us in getting the support that we need for the vote," said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Politico reports.
One person who has talked to the president said he also criticized the Senate's healthcare proposals.
"In the list of things he's said, I don't think this one is high up there on the list," the official said, according to Politico.
An administration official said Trump's comment was a way for the president to show he wanted improvements to the bill, to make it easier to defend against critics, Politico reported, and Republicans in the Senate said the comment could help them create a bill that is more liable to gain votes and also is an improvement over the House's version.
Meanwhile, a Fourth of July recess deadline looms for Republicans to vote on a healthcare proposal.
"We keep talking about the same stuff over and over and over and over and over again," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said, according to Politico. "Right now — the reason why we keep talking about the same stuff over and over again — we don't have the votes."
A group of seven governors, including three moderate Republicans, sent a letter Friday to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to find common ground on healthcare legislation, according to Business Insider.
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