Coming soon: Healthcare debate, part 2

The skirmish between the presidential candidates over the mechanics of universal health coverage will soon give way to a different general-election debate--about whether universal coverage should even be a national priority. In the primaries, Democratic candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama magnified their differences over making health insurance mandatory. Senator John McCain agrees with the Democrats that the health system needs major repair, but his solution would stress cost-containment over assuring coverage for all.