Obama's immigration strategy in limbo

An overtly partisan campaign would spark a backlash, uniting Republicans against the White House and the president’s vision of reform. Obama also can’t engage openly and directly with House Republicans because they don’t want to be seen working with him. At the very least, he will step up his public role by arguing that the economy would benefit from a reform bill and the Republican Party needs it politically…

A senior administration official said the White House is weighing its options and that the strategy depends on how the GOP plays its hand.

If the House makes progress in the next few weeks, Obama is expected to take a more restrained approach, emphasizing policy over politics. But if it becomes clear that the Republican leadership isn’t going to force any kind of bill through the House, Democrats expect Obama to drive up the political cost of inaction. The White House is hoping that others — Republican senators who voted for the bill, GOP establishment figures and party donors and advocacy organizations — take up the political campaign, allowing the president to remain above the fray.