It's the bottom of the ninth inning for the Obama health care plan

When future historians write about the Obama presidency, the question of how the once-obscure junior senator from Illinois handled the task of reforming the nation's health care system will be foremost on their minds as they judge his domestic policy achievements.

Democrats are eager to pass the signature issue of Obama's presidential campaign before the end of the year. But as members of Congress are battered by irate constituents worried about whether health care will be rationed, chances of the effort being derailed grow by the day. Obama is set to spell out his health care plans on Wednesday. This speech will be closely scrutinized for decades to come.