The result of the 37th vote to repeal Obamacare by the Republican-controlled House came as no surprise. The vote was 229 to 195 and the repeal came down on party lines — almost.
Along with the 227 House Republicans, two Democrats — Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Jim Matheson of Utah —voted for repeal.
Party labels notwithstanding, McIntyre and Matheson stand out for another reason. They survived November's election in the two closest House races in the nation.
Matheson, son of the late Gov. Scott Matheson, held on to to his Salt Lake City-based district by 768 votes over potential Republican superstar Mia Love, while McIntyre eked out an even narrower victory — 654 votes — over conservative state Sen. David Rouzer to hold on for a ninth term.
Both Love and Rouzer have strongly hinted they want rematches in 2014.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax.