Wyden: Healthcare debate 'still very fluid'

The battle over healthcare in the Senate is still fluid, presenting President Obama with an opportunity to reshape the debate, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) suggested Wednesday.

Wyden, the author of one alternative healthcare bill in the Senate, asserted that senators may be less entrenched in their positions in the debate than may be conventional wisdom.

"The situation is still very fluid," he said during an interview on MSNBC. "The president has an opportunity tonight to bring the country together."

Obama will address a joint session of Congress on healthcare tonight in what is expected to be a critical moment for one of his signature issues.

"The words that the president is going to use tonight -- these are words that represent American values," Wyden said. "They are words that have support across the political spectrum."

The Oregon Democrat said that regardless of what Obama says this evening, the controversial public (or "government-run") option will continue to be debated among lawmakers, as they determine how to proceed on healthcare reform.