Obama health bill passes crucial vote

US Senate Democrats won a crucial vote on President Barack Obama’s healthcare plan, putting them on track for passage before Christmas of the historic legislation to overhaul the medical system and cover 30 million uninsured Americans.

All 58 Democrats and the Senate’s two independents held together early yesterday against unanimous Republican opposition, providing the exact 60-40 margin needed to shut down a threatened filibuster.

The vote’s timing, at 1am early yesterday morning, was needed in order to get to a final vote by Christmas Eve, presuming opponents stretch out the debate.