This hardly seems to signal an abundance of optimism from the Obama administration.

President Barack Obama plans to push back the second-year start of enrollment in Affordable Care Act health plans, a move that would let insurers adjust to growing pains in the overhaul and potentially stave off premium increases before the 2014 congressional elections.

The enrollment period, previously scheduled to begin Oct. 15, 2014, will now start Nov. 15, said an official with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services who asked not to be identified because the decision isn’t public.

A cynic might suggest that perhaps the initial premiums were set artificially low. A fortune teller might suggest that the early signs point to a bad mix of enrollees thus necessitating significant increases next year. I’d suggest that while there’s truth in both propositions, the political guys are scared and just want to bury the entire subject as soon as possible. Look for as many “Wag The Dog” moments as the President can possibly manufacture over the coming months.