BY LINDSEY MCPHERSON, ERIN MERSHON AND STEPHANIE AKIN

The odds continued to tip in Republicans’ favor on Thursday as they headed toward an afternoon vote to overhaul the health care system.

Party leaders were already celebrating hours before the vote was expected to take place, declaring they had the votes to pass the bill, even though enough members were still on the fence to keep that prediction in question.

[Republicans Optimistic Heading Into Health Care Vote]

“It’s going to be a good day,” said Majority Whip Steve Scalise when he was asked Thursday morning if Republicans had the votes.