Obama Runs on Obamacare

Last night, President Barack Obama's reelection campaign announced the winners of their latest contest, "Meet Two Presidents" (Obama and former President Bill Clinton). The winners? Two women, both from swing states. Their reason for supporting Obama's reelection effort? Obamacare.

The first is from North Carolina. "Vicki Moore from Matthews, North Carolina," according to the Obama campaign. "As a dietitian at a local hospital, Linda coordinates family-based healthy lifestyle and sees first-hand the positive impact of the Affordable Care Act. Having pursued a graduate degree later in life, she also appreciates the President’s work on student loan reform. Vicki's nephew, Mac, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill, will accompany her."

And the second is from Ohio. "Linda Romans-Hnath from Broadview Heights, Ohio," according to the Obama campaign. "Linda was born and raised in Ohio and currently works as an information specialist for a local Cleveland park system that operates programs to help serve urban youth. As a cancer survivor, the Affordable Care Act gives her peace of mind because she knows she cannot be denied coverage if her husband, Tim, were to lose his job. Linda and her husband Tim, both volunteer for the campaign. Linda will bring Tim to meet President Obama and President Clinton."

Additionally, President Obama used a personal story from his anniversary dinner at a restaurant at the Four Seasons in Georgetown from Saturday night, to demonstrate that he's running on Obamacare.

Some of you are aware that -- well, all of you are aware that Michelle and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary.  (Applause.)  And the actual anniversary date was not that romantic.  (Laughter.)  There was some speculation as to whether this had an impact on my performance.  (Laughter.)  But I did make it up to her on Saturday.  We went out to dinner, a date night.  And it was a wonderful evening.  It was a private room, because people kind of lean over and start listening if we're in the booth next to them.  (Laughter.)  And Secret Service gets nervous.  (Laughter.)

And we had this wonderful young waiter, and he brought us all our stuff, and he was patient with us as we were dawdling over the menu.  And we were milking it for all it was worth because we don't get out that often.  But at the end of the dinner -- it was very professional, very unobtrusive -- but at the end of the dinner he just said, I wanted to just say how much I appreciate you because you saved my mother's life -- because my mother had a stroke, she wasn’t yet qualifying for Medicare, and because of the Affordable Care Act, we were able to get her coverage that allows her to take her medicines and is keeping her alive.

And it reminded me of why we do this.

Obama's decision finally to run on Obamacare makes sense because it is his signature legislative achievement. But, on the other hand, it leaves a large opening for his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney: Obamacare is widely unpopular among independents.