Republicans already were pushing their luck by vowing to “repeal and replace” the health care law without having a viable replacement in mind, says Thomas Mills, a Democratic consultant and blogger in North Carolina. Now, he says, Democrats have even more reasons to rise from their defensive crouch on this topic.

“Democrats need to start making the case for Obamacare,” Mills says. “They all voted for it, they all own it, so they can’t get away from it. So they’d better start defending it.” …

“I think Democrats have the ability to steal the health care issue back from Republicans,” said health care industry consultant said Bob Laszewski. “The Democratic Party can become the party of fixing Obamacare.” …

The independent group Put Alaska First is airing a TV ad that praises Democratic Sen. Mark Begich for helping people obtain insurance even if they have “pre-existing conditions,” such as cancer. The ad doesn’t mention Obama or his health care law by name, but it focuses on one of the law’s most popular features.