Republican leaders began an intensive campaign yesterday to sell a new agreement on Medicare drug benefits that would affect 40 million Americans, constituting the biggest expansion of Medicare in its 38-year history.

President Bush immediately pronounced himself an ally of the plan, which contains, among other things a limited prescription drug plan, a nudge for the elderly to join private plans, and higher premiums for people who earn over $80 thousand. The GOP is racing to push the legislation through Congress over the objections of leading Democrats who say it would severely undermine the traditional government-run Medicare program. Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle said, “The more Democrats learn about this plan, the more concerned we become.”