WASHINGTON (AP) — Their positions are clear.
President Barack Obama ardently defends his federal health care overhaul. Republican challenger Mitt Romney adamantly opposes it. But this coming week, when the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the law, both sides will be scrambling for political gain no matter the outcome.
If the court upholds the law, Obama will get vindication for his signature legislative accomplishment. Romney will have a concrete target for his pledge to repeal it.
If the court rules against part or all of the law, Obama could blame Romney, congressional Republicans and a conservative-leaning court for denying health benefits to millions of people in the United States. Romney could claim victory for his assertion that the government overreached.
Striking down all or part of the law less than five months from the Nov. 6 election also could mean much political uncertainty for both campaigns. That could force them to reshape long-held strategies and try to satisfy voter demands for Washington to start anew on fixing a broken health care system.
Just one-third of those questioned back the law, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll this month. But there is overwhelming backing among both supporters and opponents for Congress and the president to find a new remedy if the high court strikes down the 2-year-old law.
Obama, in campaign appearances, promotes the law's more popular elements, such as a provision allowing children to stay on their parents' insurance up to age 26. The administration has also pumped out a steady stream of positive news, including a report this past week that nearly 13 million people would receive health insurance rebates averaging $151 per household.
Romney has emphasized his repeal pledge, a central pillar of his agenda that so far offers voters few other specifics. He released a television ad Friday stressing that the elimination of the health care law will be the top priority in his administration's first 100 days.
"Day One, President Romney moves to repeal Obamacare and attacks the deficit," the narrator says in the ad set to run in Virginia, North Carolina and Iowa.
Obama aides have refused to discuss contingency plans to avoid creating the impression that they are preparing for the court to rule against them.
"We do believe it's constitutional," senior adviser David Plouffe said. "We obviously will be prepared for whatever decision the court renders."
If the court rules in its favor, the administration would press forward with full implementation of the law and use the decision to ward off Republican criticism of the overhaul. The court could strike down the full law or just the most disputed element, that most individuals carry health insurance.
In either case, the president and his aides would try to portray the repeal as detrimental to the well-being of millions of people by highlighting popular aspects of the overhaul that would disappear, including guaranteed coverage for people with existing medical conditions.
In the event of a partial repeal, the administration would move ahead with those parts of the law that do survive and could still put coverage within reach of millions of uninsured people, lay new obligations on insurers and employers, and improve Medicare benefits.
Democrats could try to raise the Supreme Court itself as an election-year issue, casting the court's decision as politically motivated.
Top aides at Romney's Boston headquarters have been working through their potential responses for several weeks. The campaign has sent health care advisers to Capitol Hill in recent days to discuss strategy with Republican lawmakers.
Republicans see political benefits for Romney even if the court sides with the Obama administration.
