Political Ad Targets McConnell’s Opposition To Health Law, Hinting At Broader 2020 Strategy From Democrats
Health care proved to be a winning issue for Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections, and they are likely to play it up again in 2020. A group looking to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said its strategy is to use McConnell's own words to "spotlight his disturbing record" on health care. In other news from the trail: Medicaid takes center stage in the Kentucky gubernatorial race and The Washington Post fact checks an alarming statistic on infant mortality from an Ohio lawmaker in the presidential race.
The Hill:
Outside Group Knocks McConnell Over Health Care In TV Ad
A left-leaning outside group on Monday is launching a TV ad knocking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) over his efforts to repeal ObamaCare. The Ditch Mitch Fund, a group focused on trying to unseat McConnell in 2020, is running the five-figure TV ad in Louisville, Ky., and Lexington, Ky., as well as going up with a statewide digital buy in the Bluegrass State. (Carney, 6/3)
The Hill:
Democrats Make Medicaid Center Of Kentucky Governor Fight
Kentucky Democrats want to make the state’s 2019 gubernatorial race ground zero in the battle over Medicaid expansion and work requirements. Democratic challenger Andy Beshear’s campaign is looking to take a page from his party’s 2018 midterm win, highlighting health care to upset the Republican incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin, who recently polled as the most unpopular governor in the country. (Weixel, 6/4)
The Washington Post Fact Checker:
The Surprisingly True Comparison Between Infant Mortality In Ohio And Iran
[Rep. Tim] Ryan, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, came up with a surprising way to illustrate racial inequality in the United States. When measuring infant mortality for all races combined, Youngstown has a lower rate than Iran. But when isolating the data for African Americans, the infant mortality rate in Youngstown exceeds the rate in Iran. The disproportionately high mortality rate for African American infants and mothers has raised public-health concerns for decades in the United States, not just in Youngstown or in Ohio. (Rizzo, 6/4)