Some Republican Senators Cite Need To Focus on Health Care as Issue in Presidential Election
A group of first-term Republican senators has conducted an "eight-week push to spotlight GOP proposals on health care in this election year," but the "effort has been largely drowned out by Republicans" who have focused on other issues, CongressDaily reports.
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) "needs to talk about it more often," as presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) has polled higher on health care. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said, "When was the last time you saw a Republican presidential candidate lead on health care?" Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said, "I think it's a mistake for our candidates not to talk about health care," which he said "will come back as an issue" in the election. He added that Republican candidates must focus on health care to attract independent voters.
"Republican strategists are divided on how -- and whether -- to move the ball forward" on health care, as some "say all they have to do is caution voters that Democrats are pushing a government takeover of the health care system" and others "are worried the GOP looks deficient on the issue and that opposing Democrats without offering a solution sets up poor prospects for the party this fall," according to CongressDaily. "By contrast, many Democratic candidates have had a laser-like focus on the issue," CongressDaily reports.
According to CongressDaily, despite their "difficulty in selling the health care issue to their colleagues, the Senate GOP freshmen are encouraged because, they say, much of McCain's health plan comes from their efforts." Coburn said, "I've taught McCain what he knows about health care" (McPike, CongressDaily, 6/27).
Broadcast Coverage
CNN's "Larry King Live" on Thursday included a discussion about health care and other issues in the presidential election. The program included comments from CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley; Robert Gibbs, communications director for the Obama campaign; Rep. Debbie Wassermann Schultz (D-Fla.); Democratic analyst Tanya Ackerman; Republican strategist and media consultant Andrea Tantaros; Republican strategist and pollster Kellyanne Conway; and Terry McAuliffe, chair of the campaign of former presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) (King, "Larry King Live," CNN, 6/26).
