High court ruling vindicates Obama on health care

Romney said Thursday that he would replace the health care law if elected. He outlined broad goals for a substitute but did not say specifically what policies he would advocate. Romney said he wants people to be able to keep their current health insurance and ensure all Americans have access to affordable insurance. He also said he wants to allow people who maintain continuous health insurance coverage to be able to stay insured even if they change plans and have a pre-existing medical condition.

The court's announcement was followed almost immediately by a barrage of advertisements and fundraising appeals from Democrats and Republicans all trying to cast the decision in the most advantageous light for their candidates.

Obama's campaign began trying to raise money off the ruling even before it was announced. In a Thursday morning fundraising email with the subject line "Today's Decision," Obama campaign manager Jim Messina told supporters "no matter what, today is an important day to have Barack Obama's back."

Outside groups also are ready to unleash a flood of advertising, including a 12-state, $9 million ad buy from the conservative political action group Americans for Prosperity.

AP White House Correspondent Ben Feller and Associated Press writer Kasie Hunt contributed to this report.

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