Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney predicted Thursday that Democrats would get the votes needed to pass a massive health care overhaul – and said that the movement to repeal the legislation had already begun.

"In my view, they will be able to turn the people they need to turn," Romney said at a Dallas luncheon speech. "What they need is for all the Democrats to come in line."

Romney, a 2008 presidential candidate who is widely expected to again seek the Republican nomination in 2012, said that President Barack Obama would call in favors and cut deals with fellow Democrats to squeak the controversial proposal through on a partisan House vote. Democrats control both houses in Congress.

"They will use all that power and all that energy to bypass the will of the people," Romney said, adding that Obama would make Democrats in swing districts "walk the plank."

But Romney said Obama's victory would be short-lived, theorizing that Democrats would take heavy losses in this year's mid-term elections. The new Congress – and possibly a Republican president after the 2012 election – would then try to repeal the health care legislation.

"The American people will not stand still for this bill becoming law," Romney said. "The American people will be with us and they will throw those guys out."

House Democrats, in what has become a political nail biter, have been working all week to try to get the necessary 216 votes to approve the overhaul.

Romney spoke at the Hilton Anatole at a noon luncheon sponsored by the National Center for Policy Analysis, a conservative think tank based in Dallas. He was greeted by polite applause and took a handful of audience questions afterward. Then, he signed copies of his book, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, for attendees.

Romney, who helped Massachusetts develop legislation for universal health coverage when he was governor, said any federal plan should reduced health care cost with a market solution, not government subsidies.

Romney also criticized the Obama administration for running up the federal deficit, along with its environmental policies and various proposed tax increases. He called on leaders to develop legislation that would solve the country's debt problem, make it energy secure and fix its schools.

"Washington politicians have put America on the course of decline," he said, warning that the United States could become the France of the 21st Century.

Romney also criticized Obama for "apologizing for America," during several foreign trips.

"Now is the time to call for America's strength and be proud of those elements that made us strong," he said.

Democrats blasted Romney’s remarks.

"We would encourage Republicans to follow advice from Mitt 'I-signed-health-care-reform-into-law-in-Massachusetts' Romney and run on a platform to repeal health insurance reform – especially in the state with the worst rate of uninsured," said Democratic National Committee Spokesman Ricardo Ramirez. "If Republicans want to repeal a deficit-reducing bill that bans discrimination against preexisting conditions, and instead support skyrocketing premiums and dropping coverage when people get sick, we'll welcome that debate any day. They can stick to political grandstanding and back the insurers. We’d rather protect Americans from insurance company abuses, and put quality, affordable health care within everyone’s reach."