“Tonight we have more momentum than we've ever had in the history of health care discussions,” Biden told about 1,000 Democrats in Des Moines.

Biden's comments at the Iowa Democratic Party's largest fundraiser, the Jefferson Jackson Dinner, came shortly after the 60-39 vote in the Senate that cleared the way for a full-scale debate on the health care bill. Biden said his speech was delayed as he worked the phone to lobby swing lawmakers.

“I see the special interests raising tens of millions of dollars, hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat our agenda,” Biden said. “We've never thought change would be easy. You all knew change would be hard. It's hard to change the direction of a nation that's been adrift for at least eight years.”

He pointed to the Senate's vote as the latest sign of progress.

“Those who voted for reform with be rewarded and those who voted against it will be held accountable,” Biden said.