President Barack Obama is significantly raising his personal stake in the effort to overhaul America's health-care system, as Democrats and the public express growing unease about the costs.

After weeks of allowing allies in Congress to shape the emerging bills, the White House signaled its intention to start spending more of Mr. Obama's political capital. "We're going to have to wade in a little deeper into the nitty-gritty to keep the process going," White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said in an interview. "We know that and accept that."

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President Barack Obama arrives to speak on health care in the Rose Garden of the White House on Tuesday.

On Tuesday -- exactly six months into his presidency -- Mr.Obama did just...