If Deal had left, the number of House members would have dropped to 431, making it one vote easier for Democrats to get a majority, as that number would have gone down from 217 to 216.

But on Thursday, Deal changed his mind.

This is a statement released by his office:

Nathan Deal changes date of resignation

WASHINGTON - Following President Obama's Wednesday announcement that he would seek a quick vote on health care, Congressman Nathan Deal, R-Ga., today announced that he will postpone his resignation until later in March. Deal discussed the change with Governor Sonny Perdue, who strongly encouraged him to stay.

"Just two days after I announced my intentions to leave Congress, the majority party stepped up the schedule for the proposed health care bill. Having been deeply involved in all health care legislation for the past decade, I knew it was important to stay and vote down this bill.

"I announced my resignation from Congress to focus on winning the Republican primary for governor so as to deny Roy Barnes the opportunity to face the Republican candidate who currently leads solely based on name recognition, but is the one Republican that Roy Barnes is sure to defeat.

"Yesterday, as I listened to President Obama's aggressive push for a quick vote on 'Obama-Care,' it was clear that I must stay in Congress and continue to fight against the most liberal health care agenda ever proposed."