Kathleen Sebelius replaces Tom Daschle

Tuesday, March 3. Following the dramatic withdrawal of Tom Daschle as the nominee for healthcare secretary, Barack Obama yesterday announced Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as his replacement. Though the pick has been welcomed by most commentators, anti-abortionists are planning to make life tough for Sebelius (pictured).

A group called Operation Rescue has already started a letter-writing campaign to complain about the 60-year-old's stance on abortion, calling her "the most rabidly pro-abortion governor" in the country and The American Life League has started a 'Stop Sebelius' petition and asked other anti-abortionist groups to join them.

On the Huffington Post, Cristina Page points out that in her home state of Kansas, Sebelius has actually dramatically reduced abortion rates, "but results matter little for the religious right, and so they wage war on her nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services (and on any group that supports her). No matter that she expanded access to adoption and provided pregnancy support for low-income women. No matter that Sebelius has a nuanced view of abortion, one that differentiates between personal morality and public necessity."

Though a Democrat, the Kansas governor is noted for her bipartisanship in her heavily Republican state and the 60-year-old was at one point being considered for Vice President. If confirmed as healthcare secretary, Sebelius will immediately take charge of the new community health centres which, President Obama announced yesterday, will be built across America with $155m authorised by the economic stimulus package. "Healthcare reform that reduces costs while expanding coverage is no longer just a dream we hope to achieve – it's a necessity we have to achieve," said the President when introducing Sebelius yesterday.

However, writing for the Boston Globe, Sasha Issenberg reckons Sebelius may not have the political experience necessary to be a success on Capitol Hill. "The nomination of Sebelius is the latest in an unusual succession of do-overs at top departments, a process that has revealed Obama's hiring decisions to be driven more by a desire to recruit particular people than to match qualified individuals to predetermined missions," he says.

And for The New Republic, Jonathan Cohn says that though Sebelius will take the headlines it is White House healthcare supervisor Nancy-Ann Min DeParle that will play the crucial role in healthcare reform. "When it comes to crafting a reform plan and then enacting it, DeParle's role is likely to be even more important," he says. "DeParle is famously reluctant to make an issue out of her upbringing, but friends and colleagues are quick to note that she cares about people facing economic struggle because, as the child of Chinese immigrants in Tennessee, she experienced that life herself.

"DeParle is smart – rocket scientist, brain surgeon, 1600 SAT smart. And she knows as much about health policy as anybody you'll encounter in Washington."

Healthcare reform was expected to be a vital campaign point for Obama in last year's election until the economic crisis took centre stage. America is the only developed nation without universal healthcare and as many as 15 per cent of Americans don't have health insurance.

LAST UPDATED 2:05 PM, MARCH 3, 2009