US healthcare order, a poll issue
Ruling gives a major boost to Obama’s campaign
Washington, June 29: The momentous Supreme Court ruling that upheld the heart of President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul has thrown the hugely divisive issue right back into the centre of the political fight gripping the country in a presidential election year.
The 5-4 ruling by the conservative-dominated court handed Mr Obama a major political victory by leaving in force the legislative centerpiece of his term, a law aimed at covering more than 30 million uninsured Americans.
While the ruling was a big victory for Mr Obama as it validated the major piece of legislation he had pushed through Congress at a cost of much political capital, it remained unclear how the decision will affect the election. It could energise Obama voters. But it also may build a fire under conservatives supporting challenger Mitt Romney, who told donors on Friday that the decision has injected “greater urgency” in the presidential contest. His campaign said it had raised more than $4 million online since the ruling. The case was the most closely watched one to go before the court since the 2000 ruling that resulted in George W. Bush’s being declared the winner of the presidential election.
Republicans, most notably Mr Romney, immediately vowed if elected to repeal the health care law, pounding on the theme of what the party sees as federal government over-reach and an increase in taxes.
Mr Obama, using momentum from the ruling, must make clear to voters that Romney once embraced the health care policies he now fiercely criticises. — AFP