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The Latest: GOP ponders how best to sell health care

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the President Donald Trump's role in the health care debate. All times local):

7:30 p.m.

Some Republicans are worried that President Donald Trump's difficulty staying on message might do more harm than good in selling their health care bill.

The GOP is weighing how to deploy Trump in the high-stakes debate. Trump has a unique ability to command and control attention. But some Republicans privately bemoan his thin grasp of the bill's principles.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delayed a vote this week after it became clear that he couldn't muster enough Republican support to offset the unanimous opposition from Democrats. GOP leaders are now hoping to pass a bill in the Senate and reconcile it with an earlier version approved by the House before lawmakers head home in August.

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4:30 p.m.

Republicans are weighing how to deploy President Donald Trump in the high-stakes debate over health care.

Trump has a unique ability to command and control attention, and that could be leveraged to bolster public support for Republican efforts and ramp up pressure on wavering senators.

But lawmakers and aides privately bemoan Trump's thin grasp of the bill's principles, and worry that his difficulty staying on message can do more harm than good.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delayed a vote this week after it became clear that he couldn't muster enough Republican support to offset the unanimous opposition from Democrats. GOP leaders are now hoping to pass a bill in the Senate and reconcile it with an earlier version approved by the House before lawmakers head home in August.

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