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REID IT & WEEP, O: NEW HEALTH DELAY

WASHINGTON — President Obama’s health-care reform effort suffered a major setback yesterday when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said any vote would be delayed until the fall, while another key Democrat ripped the White House and his own party for bungling the overhaul.

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Reid (D-Nev.) said it would be impossible to meet Obama’s long-set deadline for health-care legislation by August.

“It’s better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through,” he said.

The decision by Senate leaders was made Wednesday night but kept quiet until after Obama addressed the country that evening about the need to pass health-care reform.

Yesterday also saw harsh criticism from an important House Democrat aimed at his own party’s leadership and the White House for not being more involved.

“The White House needs to assert more authority,” said Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.).

“I’ll be relieved when they take over the marketing of this, because Congress has done a terrible job.”

Cooper, who has long advocated for health-care reforms, is among the conservative Democrat “Blue Dogs” who have revolted against Democratic leaders because the plans discussed so far raise taxes too much, are too costly and do not do anything to lower health-care costs.

But Cooper remains optimistic that Obama can rescue the plans.

“He’s the great communicator,” he said. “If anybody can explain this, he can.”

Meanwhile, Obama continued his full-court press in the political battleground state of Ohio yesterday, visiting a premier heart clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, which he has held up a model of cost-effective patient care, and holding a town-hall meeting nearby.

Speaking in a packed high-school gym, Obama downplayed the severity of his setbacks in Congress.

“We just heard today that, well, we may not be able to get the bill out of the Senate by the end of August — or the beginning of August,” he said.

“That’s OK. I just want people to keep on working. Just keep working.”

“I want it done by the end of this year,” Obama said, setting yet another deadline.

“Sometimes, delay in Washington occurs because people don’t want to do anything that they think might be controversial,” he said. “Reform may be coming too soon for some in Washington.”

churt@nypost.com