Could McConnell have wanted AHCA to fail to pass?

[Tatiana]

9. He seemed afraid of not delivering something to Trump, to be honest.

O'Donnell could be right. But I think it's a case of coincidence. I do think McTurtle wanted something, any kind of Obamacare repeal to pass. He probably bought off Capito and was frustrated at his inability to do anything with McCain.

However, the bill's failure does save Republican seats -- that is a fact. The great irony of this whole repeal/replace drama was if it had actually passed, its passage would have effectively handed Congress back to the Democrats after the 2018 elections and we'd be looking at "Speaker Pelosi" (as Joe Scar put it).