Democrats Vying To Run For Virginia’s Eighth Congressional District Embrace Health Law
The candidates in this race back the overhaul -- a different take than many vulnerable Democrats in other races around the country.
The New York Times: For Virginia Democrat, Obama’s Still A Positive
A candidate running for the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s Eighth Congressional District, which includes the suburbs outside Washington, [Don] Beyer said in a radio ad that the president was "absolutely right" about health care, and that is just the start. "In Congress, I'll fight all efforts to repeal Obamacare, because making sure millions of Americans get affordable health care is the right thing to do," he continued. ... In other parts of the country, Democrats are running from the president, eager to distance themselves from the Affordable Care Act and its bungled rollout (Parker, 6/9).
The Wall Street Journal: In Northern Virginia, Democratic Contenders See Obama As Asset
Virginia is one of six states holding primary elections or runoffs Tuesday. In South Carolina, the focus is on whether Sen. Lindsey Graham can top 50% in the GOP primary and avoid a runoff. In the Richmond, Va., area, House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor, the chamber's No. 2 Republican, is expected to beat a conservative challenger, but his margin of victory will be watched for clues to the depth of unhappiness with House leadership among GOP voters. … [Virginia's] 8th District race presents a world where Mr. Obama is on the right course and the threat comes from forces that would push his party to the center. The candidates are uniform in backing the Affordable Care Act, a higher minimum wage and efforts to rein in greenhouse gases. That is a contrast to the message some vulnerable Democrats elsewhere have been sending, as they emphasize how they would fix the health-care law, for example, rather than hail its benefits (Ballhaus, 6/9).