The Current begins in Washington on the steps outside the United States Supreme Court. U.S. President Obama calls the Supreme Court's decision to uphold his health care bill a victory. But some analysts believe it still won't help him get re-elected.

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Part One of The Current

Satire

IIt's Friday, June 29th.

The Conservatives are airing attack ads that say Canada, quote, "can't afford Mulcair's NDP".

Currently, judging by the Conservatives' current budget deficit, Canada can't afford much of anything right now.

This is The Current.

Obamacare Decision Debate - Debate

President Obama's health care overhaul passed the U.S. constitutionality test, but the ruling does little to heal fractured public opinion. Supporters celebrate the law's now bonafide ability to extend health care to millions who can't afford to have their illnesses treated because they're too poor to afford insurance. Opponents say it grows the role of government in their lives, that it's creeping socialism and a new kind of tax.

The polling on this is not entirely clear, but a large number of Americans say they don't like what's been dubbed 'Obamacare'. The Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, is promising to repeal the bill if elected.

Since the ruling went mostly in his favour, the U.S. president could afford to sound a little more gracious.

That was yesterday, and now all eyes are on November: with healthcare set once again to become a key election issue. To discuss exactly how the Court's decision may affect the US presidential election, we were joined by two guests.

Meredith Warren is a Republican political consultant. She works for Lyric Consulting. And she was in Boston.

And for the Democratic take on this ... Darrell West is vice president and director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. He was in Washington.

This segment was produced by The Current's Kristin Nelson and Kathleen Goldhar.

Other segments from today's show:

• President Obama Biography - David Maraniss