Hotsheet Live: Healthcare verdict, Latinos key to Obama victory

(CBS News) On Friday's "Hotsheet Live," our reporters roundtable focused on the importance of the Supreme Court rulings on health care and immigration to this year's 2012 presidential election.

POLITICO's Roger Simon and National Journal's Reid Wilson both told CBS News Political Director John Dickerson if the Affordable Care Act is struck down by the Supreme Court next week, that this may actually benefit President Obama and hurt his Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

"It's still 'your president tried to do the best for you,'" said Simon. "He got Congress to pass it, he's not in charge of the Supreme Court, but you know if you elect him again maybe he will be able to change the composition of the Supreme Court."

"If something is struck down, Obama's got something to run against again that sort of builds on the Washington is broken, the Supreme Court, Congress, everything is broken," added Wilson, noting that this would also force Romney to detail his own health plan.

Simon and Wilson also gave President Obama the advantage when it comes to Hispanic voters, considered by many to be an important demographic in the election.

"President Obama, who leads by huge margins in Latino polls, has established a bond with Latino voters and it could mean a difference in a lot of toss up states," said Simon.

Wilson said while this is true in most states, in Florida it may not hold true because of Cuban-Americans, who are more Republican than their fellow Latino voters.

The panel also discussed recent polling, the GOP's big fundraiser in Utah this weekend, and how crucial TV ad spending is now.

The show closed with a discussion on Romney's search for a running mate, where Wilson thinks picking anyone but Cuban-American Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is going to put Romney in a tough position.

"That's going to put [Romney] in some difficulties, when he's got to explain why he didn't pick the rising star Hispanic and instead opted for a boring white guy like Tim Pawlenty or Rob Portman."

Watch this week's full episode of "Hotsheet Live" in the video above.

[GeorgeKafantaris]

So you don't like the individual mandate in the health care law.
Fine.
What would you replace it with?
Why do you think Newt Gingrich back in Hillary's days was for it -- after they had looked at everything else?
There was no way around it.
"The insurance mandate is socialism, plain and simple."
If it's socialism, you'd have to buy it from the government, which would also tell you what doctor or hospital to go to. But you can buy health insurance from anybody, and you can get treated by the doctor and hospital you want. What's socialist about that?
"Can't you see, the government is making us buy insurance. We have no choice in the matter."
Do you have a choice not to get hurt, or not to get sick? Why then do you want a choice not to have insurance to pay for it when you do?
States in fact already have an individual mandate for car insurance, and they have been putting uninsured drivers in jail for years.
"That's different. Driving is a privilege."
Then free health care must be a right in your book. Maybe this idea came from hospitals continuing to treat the uninsured the last half century.
The tradeoff to us living in a civilized society is that we have to follow rules we don't agree with. In return, we get great many things, including goods and services that otherwise would be unavailable. But, we still have to pay for them. The mandate makes sure that we do.
What's wrong with that?

[hillzhavays]

This article is hilarious. These so-called newscasters determined that healthcare and immigration are the key. Well, if you ignore jobs, the national debt and the economy in general, sure, healthcare and immigration are key LMAO!! They're the only things Obama's got!

[gasbecca1]

Romney will be worse!

[Moveon_Misfits]

After Obama, no one could be worse.

[RCRawlings]

What Latinos are key to an Obama's victory.
Sure CBS and three Obama shills opinions.
They will eat those words when the Latino vote will not make a a difference one way or the other come election date.
More talking head pseudo nonsense.

[ObamasGuppies]

Latinos should remember this.....Holder lied, Mexicans have died.

[Moveon_Misfits]

I like that because it is true.
They should be twice as angry because their fellow Americans whether Hispanic or white died on this side of the border as well.

[RollotheNorman]

Not the case. The Phoenix ATF branch started Fast and Furious in 2006. Apparently they did this as a local branch authorized operation that was never authorized by Dubya or his AG. Holder came to office in 2009, he apparently became aware of it in 2010 and ended the operation when he became aware of it. The liars over Faux News have different version I know, but then they are RepubliCONs after all.