Many people have been hesitant to oppose Daschle for numerous reasons, but if he's telling Obama that the only way to do H/C Reform would be through Reconciliation, then that probably indicates where they are headed.
Daschle states Reconciliation could be the "Only way"
Now to be clear, what people are considering is that anything budgetary would go through reconciliation, this would include the taxes to pay for the bill (probably taxing "gold plated benefits") and the subsidies that they are going to include and they are going to try to pass through the public option (though expect that to be HEAVILY contested). Remember, the Senate Parliamentarian was FIRED by the republicans based on what he stated on the Bush Tax Cuts, so there will be lots of pressure on him.
That said, anything that passes through the Reconciliation process will be around for Five years. That's it. It has to renewed at that point. Meaning, the Public option, the taxing of the benefits, and the subsidies all have to be renewed. People should think before proceeding down this path.
As for the second bill in the senate, that will include the exchanges, the insurance reforms and all of the other "so-called popular" items. That will probably go after the first bill, so that moderates can claim a victory saying that they "moderated" the first bill.
This is the plan, and probably the strategy, and if DASCHLE (he of the bi-partisan group) is telling the Pres, this may be the only way to go, then this is probably where things are headed.