Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainBiden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states Replacing Justice Ginsburg could depend on Arizona's next senator The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE (R-Ariz.) voted in favor of a procedural hurdle Tuesday evening that would have advanced the GOP's ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill to a vote.

The vote to advance the proposal failed 43-57, with McCain voting yes.

McCain faced criticism for the vote because just hours before in a fiery floor speech, he said he would oppose the bill in its current form.

His office defended his vote Wednesday morning as simply "procedural."

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"It was not a vote in support of, or in opposition to, the substance of the amendment that was pending at the time," McCain's communications director, Julie Tarallo, said in a statement.

"In his speech yesterday, Senator McCain said he would not vote for the health care bill in its current form — and he will not. Much work remains, including consideration of the three amendments filed by Senator McCain that would address the concerns raised by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and other leaders across the state about the underlying bill’s impact on Arizona’s Medicaid system."

The proposal was the first amendment to get a vote after senators took up the House-passed healthcare bill, which is being used as a vehicle for any Senate action, earlier Tuesday. It included proposals from Sens. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy Murkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE (R-Texas) and Rob Portman Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanMcConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Romney undecided on authorizing subpoenas for GOP Obama-era probes Congress needs to prioritize government digital service delivery MORE (R-Ohio).

A vote on an amendment that would repeal much of ObamaCare is expected on Wednesday.

In a fiery floor speech earlier in the day, McCain said he would oppose the legislation in its current form when it comes time for final passage.

He called the current proposal a "shell of a bill" and said the Senate Health Committee should hold hearings on healthcare legislation.

“Let’s trust each other. Let’s return to regular order. We’ve been spinning our wheels on too many important issues because we keep trying to find a way to win without help from across the aisle," he said.

Asked by a reporter after the vote why he voted in favor of the motion, he said: "I just thought it would be good to move the process forward, and then we'll see what happens later on."