The Obama team attempted to use the anniversary of Massachusetts' healthcare reform law to link Mitt Romney to President Obama's controversial legislation.
Obama's reelection campaign released a three-minute video Thursday portraying Romney as the inspiration behind the president's healthcare law.
And Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) joined MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to tout the success of the state's legislation, which contains an individual mandate provision similar to Obama's national law.
"He [Romney] has something to be proud of," said Patrick. "He was part of a broad coalition … that came together to invent healthcare reform and then stuck together to refine it as we've gone along, and that has been key. The governor's contribution was the individual mandate."
MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski pointed out that the president's reelection team had reached out to the network to have Patrick appear on the morning show.
Patrick, a co-chairman of the Obama reelection campaign, praised the impact that the six-year-old Massachusetts law has had on the Bay State.
"We have more people covered … more businesses offering insurance to their employees, and it's added all of 1 percent to the state budget, so it's very affordable and it's done a lot of good, so we're excited to celebrate," he added.
When asked if Massachusetts residents complain about being required to purchase health insurance, Patrick said acceptance of the notion "has gotten broader and easier."
"There was a penalty, I think it's called, in the tax code, if you don't have insurance, and that number has gone steadily down," he said.
Conservatives have railed against the individual mandate provision in Obama's law and a lawsuit against it was recently heard before the Supreme Court, which is expected to issue its ruling on the matter in June.
Patrick said he believes approval of the national healthcare law will rise as people have more exposure to its impact, given his experience at the state level.
Support for Obama's legislation has dipped to record lows, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Wednesday.
The poll found that among those surveyed, 39 percent said they supported it, versus 53 who were opposed. Sixty-seven percent want the court to strike down the law in whole (38 percent) or in part (29 percent), versus only 25 percent who want the court to uphold it.
Romney has repeatedly said he would repeal Obama's law if elected president.
