Analysts predict that the Supreme Court’s decision upholding most of the Affordable Care Act will strengthen President Barack Obama’s position for reelection this November. Obama’s critics had charged that the healthcare law was unconstitutional, but, the court’s ruling now effectively removes that line of argument.
Jim King is a professor of political science at the University of Wyoming. He says Republicans will continue criticizing the content of the law, but will most likely use the healthcare act as a means of energizing voters.
“This is an opportunity to spur mobilization, and remind voters the importance getting to the polls,” says King. “Reminding voters the importance of electing republicans to the house or senate in those states that are having senate races, for the simple purposes of repealing it. Since the court has upheld it, now the repeal has to go through the legislative process and clearly if Obama is president, he would veto anything that might possibly come out of congress.”
King adds that the act will have little effect on voters in Wyoming who have traditionally voted Republican. But removing that argument, the vote might now be up for grabs in battleground states.