Jon Cohn wrote a must-read open letter to freaked out Democrats this morning. Mainly, pass healthcare reform then kick some ass selling it to voters.
You can do a lot with these ideas on the campaign trail. Visit a senior citizen home and talk about how their drug bills are coming down. Go to a community college, and chat with kids staying on their parents insurance. Shovel dirt at the construction site for new community clinics. Kiss babies while talking up the waived restrictions for OB/GYN care. Give speeches at job fairs for health care workers.
Cohn also lists a selection of benefits that will be immediately available when reform passes. All of the arguing and hand-wringing tends to overshadow the some of the goodies in the bill.