John McCain is expected to return to the Senate on Tuesday, giving Republicans a boost in their effort to move along efforts to appeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
The Arizona senator, diagnosed with brain cancer last week, announced his return on Twitter on Monday, a day ahead of a critical vote to start debate on health care, according to The Hill.
McCain's health care vote is critical in a fractured Senate where Republicans can only afford to lose two votes to start discussions on an appeal and replace bill, noted The Hill.
"I'd personally volunteer to rent an RV and road trip," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn joked Monday about McCain's return.
National Public Radio's Domenico Montanaro said McCain's presence could be what the Republicans need to get health care closer to a vote.
"It will be a remarkable moment, to see this man, whom his daughter described poetically as a 'warrior at dusk,' take his place again in the 'world's greatest deliberative body,' where he has represented his southwestern state for 30 years — and grown to be a lion," said Montanaro.
"McCain's presence is an indication that Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, who controls the agenda, may believe he has the votes to pass a motion to proceed on health care."
McCain was diagnosed with a primary glioblastoma, which was discovered when he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix earlier this month, said CNN.
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