Washington » Cool and confident, President Barack Obama basked in applause as he promised jittery Democratic lawmakers a coast-to-coast health care victory tour to sell the bill's benefits upon its passage.

It seemed like a foregone conclusion at that point, just over a week ago. Now a rebuke from voters in Massachusetts has brought Obama's health care overhaul to a defining moment. Having reached closer than any president to making health-care-for-all part of the social safety net, Obama may yet see his goal slip away.

The loss of their 60th Senate seat on Tuesday night in Massachusetts struck fear into Democrats. The president, who two weeks ago was driving deals to settle disagreements among House and Senate Democrats, sent mixed signals this past week that betrayed a lack of certainty about his intentions.

Old divisions resurfaced, leaving Democrats confused and frustrated.

Obama on Friday sought to recover his equilibrium. "I didn't take this on to score political points," a defiant Obama told workers in recession-weary Ohio. "And I'm not going to walk away just because it's hard. We're going to keep on working to get this done -- with Democrats, I hope with Republicans -- anybody who's willing to step up."

Step up. That's what some Democratic lawmakers are saying Obama needs to do.

"I think he has got to get even more deeply involved," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. "He's a key factor and we have to see exactly to what degree he wants to play that role."

"He has the ability to bring us all together," said Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., one of the negotiators in recent White House talks. "He did that ... to try to resolve the differences between the House and Senate. Again, it's going to take that kind of leadership."

By Friday, Obama was back to arguing that comprehensive health care legislation remains the best route for the nation.

Democrats are now in a self-imposed cooling-off period of uncertain duration. No decisions have been made on how to salvage health care.

"This was always threading a needle," said Dodd.

The irony, he went on to say, is that the loss of Kennedy's old seat has brought Democrats to their current predicament. Dodd said he wouldn't want to go visit Kennedy's grave at Arlington National Cemetery right now, as he did on Christmas Eve when the Senate passed its version of the bill.

"I'm afraid he might pop out at me."