Can Obama pass his health care overhaul?

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Facing mounting opposition to his health care reforms, U.S. President Barack Obama seeks to sell his plan by speaking at town hall meetings this week.

While critics say public opposition is such that lawmakers may not be able to pass the legislation, others say the heated debate will galvanize the president to do anything he can to push through the bill.

U.S. President Barack Obama holds a town hall meeting about  healthcare at the Broughton High School in Raleigh, North Carolina,  July 29, 2009.

Obama has made his health care overhaul a priority. He wants to provide health insurance for those who cannot afford it and prevent companies from denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions. But opponents fret the plan could cause taxes to skyrocket, diminish the quality of care and increase the reach of government into people's lives.

Speaking on Tuesday to a packed town hall meeting in the small community of Portsmouth, N.H., Obama said, "I need your help" to debunk misrepresentations about his reform plans.

The president promised to overhaul a system in which insurance providers can deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.

"I believe it is wrong," he said. "It is bankrupting families and businesses, and that's why we are going to pass health insurance reform in 2009."

But recent polls point to rising opposition. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found that 42 percent of respondents questioned in July thought Obama's reforms were a bad idea -- an increase from 32 percent in June -- while 36 percent said it was a positive move.

Some believe those views will translate to Congress and that the president will be unable to muster a "yes" vote.

"The bill will not pass as is," said Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies the CATO Institute, a Washington D.C.-based think tank.

The president wanted Congress to push through the legislation before the August recess, he contended, because lawmakers would have difficulty doing so once the public was informed of the bill's contents.