Reid also said….

"Meet the Press" aired about 11 minutes of host David Gregory's 20-minute interview with Sen. Harry Reid. The entire interview is posted here.

Reid expanded on health care reform and other topics that aired on the show.

On other matters:

-- He said the Senate's focus on the pro-immigrant DREAM Act during the lame duck session was worthwhile even though the bill did not pass.

--He said GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell "doesn't mean that" when he declares it to be a goal to discredit President Barack Obama in advance of the 2012 election.

"We have to look at the problems that exist in the country," Reid said. "If Republicans are focused only on defeating Obama that is a bad place to put your cards."

Reid also rejected the argument that McConnell's efforts to bring down Obama were no more than what Reid did as Democratic leader when President George Bush was in office.

-- He said the Democrats' success in pushing much of their agenda through the lame duck session of Congress launched Obama's re-election.

"I think Obama is on the road to stardom," Reid said.

-- He applauded the appointment of business executive and former Commerce Secretary William Daley as White House chief of staff.

Daley "can talk to the Chamber of Commerce, he can go to a bunch of business people and he can talk to organized labor," Reid said. "He knows his way around Washington and also his way around the financial world."

-- Reid declined to speculate on the role of religion in the upcoming presidential election, and specifically whether GOP candidate Mitt Romany would be disadvantaged by being a member of the Mormon Church. Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, another Mormon, is considering running as well.

"I am not much for discussion on "Meet the Press" of my personal religious preference," Reid said.