Health Care Reform Foes Outspend Friends 2:1

(NEWSER) - The US Chamber of Commerce launched an ad campaign this week opposing health-care reform, but businesses are hardly united against the administration's proposals, the Washington Post reports. Wal-Mart was a high-profile defector, as was temp firm Kelly Services; both back an employer mandate. And many small and medium-sized businesses are open to reform, hoping it will cut costs or slow the growth of soaring premiums. More»

Centrists target individual mandate

(NEWSER) - A group of centrist Senate Democrats is looking into ways to repeal the new health care law's individual mandate—the heart of health care reform, and a key target for Republicans. West Virginia's Joe Manchin and at least three other senators—all from states President Obama lost in 2008 and all up for re-election in 2012—are preparing to buck their party on reform and other issues, including business and environmental regulation, Politico reports. More»

President takes more hands-on approach to legislation

(NEWSER) - President Obama is growing more assertive on Capitol Hill. Since he took office, the president's supporters have criticized him for not exerting enough control over the details of legislation, instead letting Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi hammer out specifics—even on major administration goals, like the health care bill. On legislation this week concerning the Gulf oil spill and financial regulation, Obama has switched to a prescriptive style, reports Politico . More»

No need for Pelosi, Reid to panic—at least not yet

(NEWSER) - Democrats didn’t get the bump in the polls they were hoping for after health care reform passed. Are they doomed in November? Maybe. But they have reasons for optimism, writes Jay Newton-Small for Time , including:

• Michael Steele: He’s “the gift that keeps on giving,” and his gaffes are killing the GOP’s momentum.
• Tea Party candidates: In many states, fringe candidates are sucking up money and threatening to derail theoretically more electable establishment candidates.

Pelosi, Obama get slight boost; Reid continues race to bottom

(NEWSER) - The passage of health care reform hasn’t been a huge boon for Democrats, but it hasn't been a disaster, either. Overall approval ratings have remained stable for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi since January (46% negative, 42% positive), and President Obama got a boost of 5 points on his handling of health care reform, to 48%. Not so fortunate was Harry Reid, whose numbers continued to slide. Overall approval for the Senate majority leader fell to 29% from 35% in January. More»