Obama Praises Public-Option Compromise

President Obama applauded Senate Democrats for yielding on the public option in favor of a "creative framework" for health care reform that could attract wider support. "I support this effort, especially since it's aimed at increasing choice and competition and lowering cost," Obama said at a health care rally in DC. "I want to thank all of you for sticking with it, for all those late nights, all the long weekends that you guys have put in."

The deal, worked out last night, includes expanding Medicare and creating national insurance policies that are privately administered, the Washington Post reports. Harry Reid now must make sure that the compromise attracts sufficient support among fence-sitters. Joe Lieberman, who has been one of the harshest critics of the public plan, said after the deal that he was "encouraged" by the bill's progress.