Democrats and Republicans Vying for Senior Voter Support by Touting Action on Prescription Drugs, Medicare

In an attempt to woo senior voters for this November's congressional elections, both Democrats and Republicans have been emphasizing their efforts to combat rising prescription drug costs, the Washington Post reports (Dewar, Washington Post, 8/25). Democrats believe that they will benefit from seniors' "anger and frustration" over high drug costs, while Republicans say that although the issue has put them on the defensive, they will not necessarily lose individual House or Senate races because of it, the Boston Globe reports (Kirchhoff, Boston Globe, 8/25). Anthony Corrado, professor of government at Colby College, said, "Drugs and the economy are so dominant that voters don't want to hear anything else." For example, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is running for re-election, seems to have learned from the example of former Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), who lost the Senate race two years ago to then-Rep. Deborah Stabenow (D-Mich.). Stabenow "got out ahead" of Abraham on the prescription drug issue, and Abraham "could never catch up." Unlike Abraham, Collins has assumed a "front-and-center role" in the Senate's recent debate on a Medicare drug benefit, the Post reports. She also co-sponsored a bill that would ease the market entry of generic drugs and supported an amendment that would to allow U.S.-made drugs to be re-imported from Canada. In addition, Collins -- "perhaps the year's most prominent practioner of politics-by-inoculation against popular issues raised by an opponent" -- voted for legislation that would allow states to replicate programs such as Maine Rx, which Collins' opponent, Chellie Pingree (D), a former state Senate majority leader, helped develop (Washington Post, 8/25). Under the Maine Rx program, which was enacted by the state Legislature in 2000 but has not taken effect, Maine would act as a pharmacy benefit manager to negotiate with drug makers for discounts similar to those given to the Medicaid program. The state would use the savings to reimburse pharmacies for giving discounts to customers who lack drug coverage. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a suit filed by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America to block the program (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 7/1). For her part, Pingree continues to "try to draw a distinction between herself and Collins on health care." In a recent meeting with Maine seniors who had just returned from a bus trip to Canada to purchase lower-cost medications, Pingree said, "Whether or not she (Collins) was doing anything in the past, it wasn't significant." Whether Collins' or Pingree's messages have "penetrated the electorate" is unclear, Corrado said, adding that "what is clear is that there is deep concern about the problem ... and the candidates reflect it" (Washington Post, 8/25).