Graham says Obamacare will hurt Dems this fall

With the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday set to begin hearing oral arguments over the constitutionality of Obamacare, a leading Republican senator predicts the issue could sink Democrats in the fall.

“The vice president whispered to the president when they signed [Obamacare] two years ago, ‘This is a big f’n deal.’ Well, now it’s become a big f’n mess for the Democratic Party and the country as a whole,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.

Democrats, however, expect the opposite. While portions of the controversial health care law — particularly the individual mandate — remain unpopular with the public, the Obama re-election team still intends to hold it up as a major legislative accomplishment and believes Republicans ultimately will pay a political price for opposing it when the measure is fully implemented and its benefits fully understood.

“I’m convinced at the end of this decade the Republicans are going to regret terming this ‘Obamacare,’” said Obama Senior Adviser David Plouffe, speaking on “Fox News Sunday.”

“For the people who are experiencing it, I think they’re seeing it quite differently than was advertised” by Republicans, he said.

Democrats also hope to take the issue off the table entirely if GOP front-runner Mitt Romney secures his party’s nomination. Mr. Romney has come under fire from fellow Republicans and others for instituting “Romneycare” during his time as governor as Massachusetts.

Mr. Plouffe and other Democrats now are gleefully pointing out the similarities between their national plan and the model Mr. Romney established in Massachusetts.

“Mitt Romney is the godfather of our health care plan,” Mr. Plouffe said.

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