Politico reports on the various paths the White House could take regarding strategy for passage of a health care reform bill. "No matter which way they go, the White House and congressional Democrats face long odds, and no guarantee of a bill at the end of the process.
Obama could sidestep one problem -- a Republican filibuster in the Senate -- if he goes with a partisan bill and attempts to pass it through procedural maneuver known as reconciliation. But he may well find a long list of other challenges, both political and legislative." They include uniting Democrats, the labyrinth of the reconciliation process and a skeptical public.
Democratic patience may have one more month before Democrats push ahead alone on reform: "The White House and congressional Democrats are expected to wait until at least mid-September before deciding to abandon the bipartisan Senate Finance Committee talks" (Brown, 8/20).