Senate Democrats defeated a Republican attempt on Wednesday to overturn President Obama's health care law in a 47-51 vote.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Republican repeal movement would "take away a child's right to get health insurance and instead give insurance companies the right to use asthma or diabetes as an excuse to take away that care."

"It would kick kids off their parents' health insurance," Reid said. "It would take away seniors' rights to a free wellness check."

Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers remained optimistic, saying the defeat will actually turn out to be a victory for them in 2012.
    
They said Wednesday's health care vote puts Democrats on the record once again in favor of the unpopular law. They vowed they will highlight everything that's wrong with the legislation in the lead-up to the next congressional and presidential elections. 

"There's a narrative I've seen and read out there that this was somehow a futile act because Republicans didn't have the votes to repeal Obamacare," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said at a news conference held by GOP leaders following Wednesday's vote. 

"But I have to tell you, these are the first steps in a long road that will culminate in 2012 whereby we will expose the flaws and the weaknesses in this legislation," he concluded. 

Two federal judges have already ruled that health overhaul is unconstitutional. The debate over the law's constitutionality is expected to ultimately be settled by the U.S. Supreme Court.