During the State of the Union address, Barack Obama played the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" card to win back some support from his fading base on the Left, but as we discussed last week, once again he'll depend on Congress to carry the baton across the finish line.

Congressional liberals were heartened when Barack Obama pledged to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," but their initial elation has given way to concerns the repeal will stall in the penalty box of presidential promises: the U.S. Senate.

Obama's historic commitment - featured prominently in his State of the Union speech last month - helped soothe his frayed relationship with the politically powerful gay and lesbian community.

It also sent a strong signal to the Democrats' demoralized, demobilized progressive base that he's still on their side, after delays and compromises on the public option, cap and trade and the closing of Guantanamo Bay.

But House Democratic leadership aides tell POLITICO they are growing increasingly worried over the lack of a detailed White House road map for passing a repeal - and that without such a road map, repeal will end up in the same kind of Senate gridlock that hobbled health reform. (emphasis added)