Some Dems still skittish on health care; GOP riled

The constitutional win for President Barack Obama and Democrats on health care overhaul is reopening political cuts within the party over the unpopular law.

Four months to an election with control of Congress in the balance, the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the law left several Democrats insisting that the issue was settled and it’s time to focus on jump-starting a sluggish economy.

Other Democrats saw the newfound attention as a chance to reset the debate and make a fresh case for the law’s more popular elements, especially as 12.8 million Americans start getting health insurance rebate checks in the coming months.

The most vulnerable Democratic incumbents and challengers _ Montana Sen. Jon Tester and North Dakota’s Heidi Heitkamp among them _ cautiously welcomed the court’s judgment but argued that the law could be improved.

Even before Obama signed the landmark measure in March 2010, Republicans were unified in opposition and clear in their message: repeal and replace. The White House and divided Democrats have been frustrated in trying to explain and sell the law to a skeptical public in a sharp contrast to the GOP. The court’s decision was a reminder of political reality.

Two years ago, grass-roots outrage over health care contributed to the Democrats losing the House majority and seven Senate seats. Republicans and outside groups promise more of the same in the campaign slog to November.

The court has “done a favor” for Republicans, freshman Rep. Allen West of Florida, who owes his seat in part to that anger, said in an interview. “Why would the Obama administration and Democrats want the pre-eminent issue of 2010 to be the pre-eminent issue of 2012?”

Conservative leader Richard Viguerie said the court’s decision has raised that anger to “a revolutionary fervor that will sweep President Obama and many other Democrats from office.” The Tea Party Express appealed to its supporters for money and backing to defeat Obama and “a liberal U.S. Senate that have foisted Obamacare down our throats.” Outside groups, both parties and candidates have been furiously fundraising off the ruling.

In North Dakota, Crossroads GPS launched an ad Friday that calls out Heitkamp, the Democratic

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