US President Barack Obama (C) walks out of the Caucus Room with House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (L) and Congressman John Larson (2nd R) after a meeting on health care reform on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Obama hoped to bring the full persuasive power of the US presidency to bear in an 11th-hour push to secure the 218 votes needed to pass health care overhaul. Photo:Jim Watson/AFP