"I think we're going to proceed to debate," Cornyn said, though he acknowledged about McCain, "It would help if he's here."McConnell's measure would uproot much of Obama's law, eliminating its tax penalties on people not buying policies, cutting the Medicaid health care program for the poor and providing less generous health care subsidies for consumers.

Complicating McConnell's task, Ohio GOP Gov. John Kasich said it would be a mistake for the Senate to move ahead Tuesday "and force a one-sided deal that the American people are clearly against." Kasich's stance could make it harder for wavering Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who's criticized the measure's Medicaid cuts, to back the legislation.

Yet in one possible sign of progress by leaders, Portman said it's "not as important to me" to know what bill McConnell would move to if the Senate votes to begin debate.

Kasich panned the bill for a lack of "bipartisanship, transparency or open dialogue." In a statement, the 2016 GOP presidential contender said Congress should take no action on recrafting the nation's health care system until it can "step back from political gamesmanship and come together with a workable, bipartisan plan."Yet Portman and other undeclared Republican senators were also being pounded by the White House.

"Republicans have a last chance to do the right thing on Repeal & Replace after years of talking & campaigning on it," Trump tweeted earlier Monday.

Trump's contentious tone toward his own party underscored the high stakes as he tries avoiding the specter of Republicans sinking one of his top priorities.

Characteristic of his scattershot effort on his party's health care drive, Trump also spent the morning tweeting insults at Democrats, the news media and his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions, about their handling of investigations into his 2016 campaign's possible collusion with Russia.

Late in the day, Trump used an appearance at the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia to joke about firing his health secretary, Tom Price. Saying that Price "better get" the votes to begin debate on the legislation, the president said, "Otherwise, I'll say: Tom, you're fired." He also told the crowd it "better get" West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Caputo, who has expressed reservations about the GOP bill, to vote for it.

AP