President, Pence harden Obamacare battle lines

Senate minority leader says repealing the act will 'make America sick again'

Hardening battle lines for the brawl to come, US President Barack Obama urged congressional Democrats to "look out for the American people" in defending his legacy healthcare overhaul, while vice-president-elect Mike Pence stood firm on Wednesday in telling Republicans that dismantling "Obamacare" is No 1 on Donald Trump's list.

"We're going to be in the promise-keeping business," Pence declared at two separate Capitol news conferences. Just 16 days before Trump takes over the Oval Office, he said repealing and replacing Obama's law will be the president-elect's "first order of business".