By CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN & PATRICK O’CONNOR | 9/17/09

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) worked for months to find common ground with Republicans on health care reform — but when he released his long-anticipated proposal Wednesday, the real problem quickly came into focus.

He set the stage for a titanic struggle within his own party.

Reaction from congressional Democratic leaders was lukewarm to worse, progressives were downright hostile and Republicans were scornful of what they described as brazen government grab.

But Baucus may have provided lawmakers with the only viable blueprint for winning support across Congress, because he sought to find elements that pleased all sides.

Breaking down the Baucus bill – Carrie Budoff Brown and Patrick O’Connor – POLITICO.com