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Alabama Leaders Speak About the Affordable Care Act's Political Effects

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By Tamika Bickham

Story Created: Jun 28, 2012 at 7:36 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jun 28, 2012 at 11:41 PM CDT

Even though the Affordable Care Act has been upheld, the talk about the controversial law is no where near over. What type of political ramifications could the law have?

Alabama leaders on both the left and right agree it's a win for President Barack Obama.

"This is a great victory for President Obama. He accomplished something by passing this legislation that presidents have been trying since Theodore Roosevelt since 1908," said State Senator Hank Sanders, a democrat from Selma.

"It's going to be very interesting to see how it goes. I think it is a huge victory for Obama. This is what he started out on," said Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Executive Committee, Pat Wilson.

But as far as the upcoming presidential election goes, the healthcare decision doesn't necessarily put President Obama ahead of Mitt Romney, according to CBS 8 Political Analyst Steve Flowers.

"I think it's a wash. I think it gives Obama credibility, but also gives the Republican base something more to be fired up about," said Flowers.

Flowers says while it's unclear how the Supreme Court's ruling will effect undecided voters, we won't see much impact here in Alabama.

"It has no effect on the Alabama outcome. Alabama will probably vote Republican overwhelmingly," said Flowers.

With Democrats convinced that Obama's healthcare success could do nothing but good.

"This is a great victory that will help him in all kinds of ways," said Senator Sanders.

Republicans say voters could change their minds once they realize the shrinking impact, they say, it has on the size of their wallets.

"I hope it will make a difference in the polls that people will understand, that we can't afford this extensive healthcare plan as it is written out," said Wilson.

Steve Flowers says while healthcare may be the news of the day, he doesn't believe it to be the gamebreaker in the upcoming election. So what will be? He says the economy.

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