Daschle: 50-50 chances for reform

The general media consensus has been that after the healthcare dust settles, some kind of reform will likely pass.

But former Senate Majority Leader and healthcare wonk Tom Daschle isn’t so sure.

Appearing on Meet the Press this morning, Daschle said the chances of reform are no better than “50-50.”

(Daschle, of course, was President Obama’s first choice for Health and Human Services Secretary but bowed out after a flury of tax problems.)

Daschle’s comments hint at a strategic question underlying the healthcare debate. The White House seems intent on declaring victory when all this is over, but how much are they willing to water down a reform bill just to get SOMETHING passed?