CAN'T EVEN PASS THEIR OWN PLAN!....House GOP Lacks Votes For Its Debt Limit Hostage Proposal... Conservatives Complain: Not Hardline Enough... Could Be Delayed A Week... SET TO SHOOT THE HOSTAGE... DIRTY: Boehner Rules Out Passing 'Clean' Bill... White House 'Not Negotiating With People With A Bomb Strapped To Their Chest'

WASHINGTON -- House Republican leaders rolled out their latest gambit to use the nation's debt limit to extract concessions from Democrats, but they may have spoken too soon.

Numerous members of the GOP conference emerged from their weekly closed-door meeting Thursday expressing confidence in a bill that would seek numerous cuts and legislative changes in return for raising the country's $16.7 trillion borrowing cap. They said a vote could be scheduled swiftly, with an Oct. 17 deadline looming.

But reports surfaced later in the day, as members thought the plan over, that there might not be enough votes in the fractious Republican caucus to pass it.

Leadership sources told HuffPost that such reports were "premature," but acknowledged they were "still talking to members, still listening to concerns." "I'd guess we need more votes," one said. read more...