As his August deadline for health care reform legislation looms, President Obama will get more involved in talks with lawmakers, White House officials said today.
Obama made several phone calls to lawmakers today, said White House Communications Director Anita Dunn, despite shifting his focus for a visit and press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. His staff gave him updates on the legislation’s progress throughout the day.
Aides said the White House will focus on three key groups of Democrats whose support is crucial, but far from guaranteed. The administration is courting the fiscally conservative Blue Dogs (some of whom Obama met with yesterday for an hour), Dems from high-income districts whose constituents would be affected by a tax on the wealthy, and those opposed to abortion, who are worried about a public plan which might require health care providers to pay for abortions.
