Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, opened a conference of Southern Republicans by calling President Barack Obama's healthcare campaign an arrogant power play.

The first speaker at the three-day Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Cheney accused Obama of peddling "phony numbers" to get his healthcare bill passed by Congress.

She predicted Republicans will repeal the bill.

Before an audience that at times booed at Obama's name, Cheney said: "We still have time to stop this dangerous power play, what I think was one of the most arrogant power plays in American history."

The conference is drawing several GOP leaders who hope to claim the 2012 presidential nomination.