WASHINGTON - Buoyed by two major endorsements, House Democratic leaders yesterday predicted swift passage of President Obama’s historic health overhaul initiative. The president himself declared, “We are closer to passing this reform than ever before.”

With a vote set for tomorrow, momentum gathered behind the sweeping legislation to remake the U.S. health-care system and extend coverage to millions of the uninsured. The American Medical Association and the powerful seniors’ lobby AARP both threw their weight behind the bill yesterday.