(Image source: The White House)

BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN

You're watching multisource politics video news analysis from Newsy. 

It’s the hallmark of President Obama’s presidency -- but his health care overhaul could also take center stage in the 2012 elections.

Bloomberg reports -- the Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to back the law’s most controversial provision: the individual mandate.

“That means a Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act could come soon during the heart of the presidential campaign. The Obama administration says it is confident that the court will decide in its favor that the act is a legitimate use of federal power.”

The individual mandate requires all Americans to have health insurance, and the president’s critics are calling that -- unconstitutional. Politico’s David Nather outlines the risk the high court’s decision poses for the administration.

“It could be one of the smartest political moves the Obama administration has made — or a historic mistake that could kill not just the health care reform law but the president’s chances for reelection, too.”

And here’s why: if the Supreme Court takes up the case -- which most analysts agree it will -- the ruling could come sometime next summer. Smack dab in the heat of the campaign. Not that the issue isn’t already political:

TX. GOV. RICK PERRY: “Day one when I walk in the Oval Office, I will sign an Executive Order to wipe out as much of Obama care as I can. (APPLAUSE).”

Both sides are equally confident in a win. But hold on -- The New York Times’ Michael Shear says this could really go either way.

“...a flat-out victory for Mr. Obama and his team would almost certainly become a new and angry rallying cry for Tea Party groups... A victory for Mr. Obama would make him look strong, rather than weak. And it could help the president make the argument that it is time to move on to other pressing issues, like jobs and the economy.”

The same day the Justice Department filed its appeal with the Supreme Court -- 26 states asked the high court to rule against the entire law. Appeals courts have thus far been split on the constitutionality of the individual mandate.



Transcript by Newsy.