Somewhere Ted Kennedy is smiling.

His gamble on choosing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton for president has paid off. The relentless Obama focus on health care, a legacy from Kennedy, has made possible the historic vote on Sunday night that passed the House and seems certain to become law.

It is hard to underestimate the historic nature of what has just happened. Whether you agree or disagree with the health care bill, it is the most significant political accomplishment in many years to get it passed.

The spirit of Kennedy was certainly present in those final hours.

There was a poignant moment when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an impassioned plea for the passage of the health care bill, and spoke emotionally about Kennedy's posthumous letter to Obama pleading for health care passage to be his legacy.

It is highly unusual for a House speaker to mention and thank a senator in such a critical moment. There are strong territorial issues between both chambers of Congress, but it shows how much a debt was owed to Kennedy for his tireless pursuit of affordable health care for all Americans.

That looked like a failed dream, ironically, when Scott Brown took the Kennedy seat in January, to the consternation of the Kennedy family.

But a few weeks is a long time in politics, and Pelosi cobbled together a majority that ensured that the greatest change in health care since Medicare was passed would now become law.

In addition, Obama did not listen to the naysayers in his own camp who wanted him to cut and run. He realized that if he failed at health care the consequences were devastating for his presidency.

He, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put Humpty Dumpty together again and proceeded to pull off one of the great turnarounds in recent political history.

There is no question that Kennedy's spirit was present in those final few hours as the deal came together.

Off to the side, watching Pelosi's speech was Congressman Patrick Kennedy, now in the last few months of his time in the house. As soon as Pelosi was finished, she strode over and embraced him.

For the son of Ted Kennedy it must have been a very proud moment, one he know his father had lived for but had never seen. Along the way had come crashing disappointments, but now at last the dream had been fulfilled.

Both Pelosi and Patrick Kennedy knew Ted Kennedy's legacy is now secure. His wife Vicki issued an immediate statement saying it was the culmination of his life's efforts.

It is a sad he did not live to see his greatest legislative priority come into being. But no doubt, he would have deflected the praise as he always did to others.

Nonetheless, history was made on health care last Sunday night – and in many ways, we have the Lion of the Senate Ted Kennedy to thank.

Kennedy backed Obama when the word was waiting for him to back Clinton. He saw in the young leader the stuff of history, not just the color of his skin but also the cut of his jib, the ability to make an historic breakthrough.

Obama clearly brought that game to the health reform negotiations and justified Kennedy's faith in him.