Obama, Pelosi, Senate leader Harry Reid and other Democrats were frustrated that the health bill, a Democratic goal going back to Franklin Roosevelt, seemed to be heading towards defeat because of Republican unwillingness to compromise.

The success of the new health care law depends to a large degree on a handful of Obama administration officials, who are scrambling to make the transition from waging political war on Capitol Hill to managing one of the most profound changes in social policy in generations.

Opinion by John McCormack

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who attempted to overhaul the nation's healthcare insurance as first lady during President Clinton's first term, has a couple of words for President Obama's success during his first term: "Thank goodness.''

The president is in Maine trying to appeal to small business owners and the middle class in an effort to convince them that the law is necessary and should be supported.

"I think it is a critical first step in making a healthcare system that works for all Americans," the president told  NBC News’ Matt Lauer. D.C

In an interview for NBC's "Today" program, President Obama says that he sees the new health care law as "centrist," not a government takeover.

President Barack Obama is set to begin an immediate public relations blitz aimed at turning around Americans' opinion of the health-care bill.

Opinion by Ann Telnaes

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