The officials emphasized their view that it is Republicans who are holding up the president’s $447 billion plan, and they downplayed Democratic defections.
Democratic unity, one official said, has “never been the test before.”
“It's not going to be now,” the official said.
The White House officials also said it is absurd to suggest Democrats don't support the bill because a handful of Senate Democrats are opposed to it.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the president’s plan Tuesday evening, but it will not win the 60 votes required to move forward.
The White House sees this as an advantage though. They intend to use it as a way to paint Congress - Republicans specifically - as ineffective.
