WASHINGTON -- Sometime before 2 p.m. Tuesday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell yanked the Obamacare-repeal-and-reform bill from consideration, saying he wanted more time to work on it. It was obvious by then the bill couldn't pass.

About two hours later -- after McConnell's announcement -- Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican who was on the fence, announced he was opposed to the bill and could not vote for it.

Weird timing?

Isn't that like saying you won't go to a dance when the dance has already been canceled? Like saying you have decided not to go see a movie after the movie is no longer in theaters? (Other analogies are welcome.)

It might take a forensic timekeeper to work this out. Portman's office says the senator and a colleague, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, had already been talking with McConnell about their concerns, although they had not said they would definitely vote one way or another. They had expressed concerns for months, said Portman spokeswoman Emile Benavides.

If so, Portman as recently as Monday morning had not publicly decided yes or no on the bill. He made no public statement on a firm position, in fact, until after the fact.

Meanwhile, Ohio Gov. John Kasich appeared at a Washington news conference Tuesday morning and urged his friend -- and all other senators -- to drop the bill and start over. Kasich said he had no idea how Portman would vote. Portman's phone lines and offices were besieged with constituent requests to vote no. But Portman wouldn't commit.

While Portman and other Republicans said the existing health care law, the Affordable Care Act, was driving up premiums and harming hardworking Ohioans, the Congressional Budget Office said the proposed Senate Republican replacement would drive 22 million people from health coverage and push up premiums for older Americans dramatically. Other estimates reached similar conclusions.

Portman had voiced concerns about removing people too quickly from Medicaid, the low-income health program that would be cut under the Senate bill. He wanted what he called a slower guidepath to some other form of coverage, and he said he wanted to assure care for people with mental health issues and addictions. But he also had said, repeatedly, that Obamacare, as the current law is known, could not continue. He said on CNBC Monday that "we need to see where this Senate bill comes out."

Here's where -- and when -- it came out. McConnell pulled the plug during a private meeting with senators and the news came out just before 2 p.m. McConnell subsequently addressed reporters and said Senate Republicans would keep working on a health care plan. Then a statement from Portman and Capito went out at 3:55 p.m.

At least the statement came out before Portman and other Republican senators were supposed to meet at the White House and discuss a way forward with President Donald Trump.

Here is the full statement:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) issued the following joint press release after the Senate delayed its vote on the Senate health care discussion draft:

Senator Portman:

"As I've said many times, the Affordable Care Act is not working for many Ohio families and small businesses. I am committed to creating a better health care system that lowers the cost of coverage, provides access to quality care, and protects the most vulnerable in our society. The Senate draft before us includes some promising changes to reduce premiums in the individual insurance market, but I continue to have real concerns about the Medicaid policies in this bill, especially those that impact drug treatment at a time when Ohio is facing an opioid epidemic.

"For months, I have engaged with my colleagues on solutions that I believe are necessary to ensure that we improve our health care system and better combat this opioid epidemic. Unfortunately, the Senate draft falls short and therefore I cannot support it in its current form. In the days and weeks ahead, I'm committed to continue talking with my colleagues about how we can fix the serious problems in our health care system while protecting Ohio's most vulnerable citizens."

Senator Capito:

"I came to Washington to make the lives of West Virginians better. Throughout this debate, I have said that I will only support a bill that provides access to affordable health care coverage for West Virginians, including those on Medicaid and those struggling with drug addiction. In West Virginia, Obamacare has led to skyrocketing premiums, co-pays, and deductibles for families and small businesses. Patients have fewer choices in doctors and hospitals as networks shrink and plans become more restrictive.

"I have consistently looked for opportunities to improve this broken law, including co-sponsoring the Patient Freedom Act of 2017 earlier this year. I continue to believe we must repair what can be fixed, scrap what is not working, and create a better health care reality for West Virginians. At the same time, West Virginia has the largest Medicaid population in the country. I recognize that many West Virginians rely on health coverage and access to substance abuse treatment because of my state's decision to expand coverage through Medicaid. I have studied the draft legislation and CBO analysis to understand its impact on West Virginians. As drafted, this bill will not ensure access to affordable health care in West Virginia, does not do enough to combat the opioid epidemic that is devastating my state, cuts traditional Medicaid too deeply, and harms rural health care providers."

"As drafted, the Senate health care bill is not the right fix for West Virginia, and I cannot support it. My concerns will need to be addressed going forward."