WASHINGTON--House Speaker John Boenher (R-Ohio) later Thursday will find out if he can deliver even his own bill to deal with the looming Aug. 2 deadline to raise the debt ceiling while cutting spending at the same time. When I checked with various GOP vote counters, they all agreed it's close.

No Democrats are likely to stray and be on the Boehner bill.

Boehner was asked during a GOP leadership press conference today about hard-liners in his Republican ranks who want to blow the Aug. 2 default date to get a better deal with the Democrats. What does Boehner say to that?

"I've heard -- I've heard that comment made from some of my colleagues. I disagree. I just don't think that -- with the fragile economy that we have, the last thing we need to do is be playing around with August the 2nd, and the unknown," Boehner said.

UPDATE
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, at her press conference, doubted any Democrats would cross the aisle on this one.

Q: Leader Pelosi, will Democrats have unanimous opposition to Speaker Boehner's bill?

Leader Pelosi. Let me say this, I am very proud of the enthusiasm in our caucus for something other than the Boehner bill. The Boehner bill will not pass because it has Democratic votes.

Q: But not unanimous opposition?

Leader Pelosi. Well, I'm not speaking for every member in my caucus. But I feel very confident that if they are going to have 217 votes, whatever it is, they will have to be Republican votes.
END UPDATE

DAVID PLOUFFE ON BOEHNER BILL

In a conference call, White House senior advisor David Plouffe put it this way: "After tonight, the Boehner bill is dead. Like the Loch Ness monster, it doesn't exist anymore."