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| GOP too focused on Obamacare, some Republicans warn | GOP too focused on Obamacare, some Republicans warn |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Is the Affordable Care Act the Republicans’ golden ticket in this year’s election? Some Republicans worry that their party may be placing too big a bet on it. | Is the Affordable Care Act the Republicans’ golden ticket in this year’s election? Some Republicans worry that their party may be placing too big a bet on it. |
| Thus far, nearly every advertising dollar being spent against Democratic congressional candidates is going toward pounding them on the new law. | Thus far, nearly every advertising dollar being spent against Democratic congressional candidates is going toward pounding them on the new law. |
| That strategy could miss the mark, warned Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association and a possible contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. | That strategy could miss the mark, warned Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association and a possible contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. |
| “There are still too many folks who would tell you the president’s unpopular, Obamacare is unpopular and when your opponent is self-destructing you stay out of his way — just make this election a referendum on that,” Jindal said in an interview. | “There are still too many folks who would tell you the president’s unpopular, Obamacare is unpopular and when your opponent is self-destructing you stay out of his way — just make this election a referendum on that,” Jindal said in an interview. |
| “I think that’s a huge mistake,” Jindal added. “If we want to earn the majority, we have to be offering detailed policy solutions, detailed ideas of what we would do differently. I don’t think it is enough to say just repeal Obamacare.” | “I think that’s a huge mistake,” Jindal added. “If we want to earn the majority, we have to be offering detailed policy solutions, detailed ideas of what we would do differently. I don’t think it is enough to say just repeal Obamacare.” |
| Polls indicate that the Affordable Care Act continues to be unpopular, but the intensity of anger over it may be dissipating. Other issues — principally jobs and the economy — are looming as greater concerns for most voters. | Polls indicate that the Affordable Care Act continues to be unpopular, but the intensity of anger over it may be dissipating. Other issues — principally jobs and the economy — are looming as greater concerns for most voters. |
| Moreover, while the GOP-led House has now cast 49 votes to repeal or strip funding from the health law, surveys show a majority of Americans would rather see it proceed — albeit with course corrections. Though Republican candidates are virtually unanimous in their condemnations of the law, the party has not coalesced around any ideas for replacing it. | Moreover, while the GOP-led House has now cast 49 votes to repeal or strip funding from the health law, surveys show a majority of Americans would rather see it proceed — albeit with course corrections. Though Republican candidates are virtually unanimous in their condemnations of the law, the party has not coalesced around any ideas for replacing it. |
| And a deeper dive into the numbers reveals another paradox. While opposition narrowly outran support for the law in a January Washington Post-ABC News poll, 49-46 percent, respondents by a much larger margin said they trusted Democrats more to handle health care, 44-35 percent. | And a deeper dive into the numbers reveals another paradox. While opposition narrowly outran support for the law in a January Washington Post-ABC News poll, 49-46 percent, respondents by a much larger margin said they trusted Democrats more to handle health care, 44-35 percent. |
| The problems with the law have also receded from the headlines, as the administration has fixed most of the Web site problems that plagued the rollout. Enrollment in the federal and state health insurance marketplaces now exceeds 4 million. | The problems with the law have also receded from the headlines, as the administration has fixed most of the Web site problems that plagued the rollout. Enrollment in the federal and state health insurance marketplaces now exceeds 4 million. |
| Still, nearly every day seems to bring a new round of skirmishing between the parties over the law. | Still, nearly every day seems to bring a new round of skirmishing between the parties over the law. |
| The Republicans’ “fixation on repealing the ACA comes at their own peril, as the political landscape around the Affordable Care Act has shifted in Democrats’ favor,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Executive Director Kelly Ward wrote in a memo that the House Democrats’ campaign organization blasted to its e-mail list Wednesday. “Democrats are now on offense over the Affordable Care Act, gaining the political high ground as benefits kick in and provide the ammunition to put Republicans on their heels over the costs of repeal.” | The Republicans’ “fixation on repealing the ACA comes at their own peril, as the political landscape around the Affordable Care Act has shifted in Democrats’ favor,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Executive Director Kelly Ward wrote in a memo that the House Democrats’ campaign organization blasted to its e-mail list Wednesday. “Democrats are now on offense over the Affordable Care Act, gaining the political high ground as benefits kick in and provide the ammunition to put Republicans on their heels over the costs of repeal.” |
| To which Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski retorted in another mass e-mail: “Congressional Democrats proudly gave us Obamacare. Given the rash of negative stories about how the law is adversely affecting millions of Americans – through higher costs and cancelled policies – we think it’s only appropriate for Democrats to spend the next year apologizing for ramming Obamacare through Washington.” | To which Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski retorted in another mass e-mail: “Congressional Democrats proudly gave us Obamacare. Given the rash of negative stories about how the law is adversely affecting millions of Americans – through higher costs and cancelled policies – we think it’s only appropriate for Democrats to spend the next year apologizing for ramming Obamacare through Washington.” |
| The GOP’s message may well evolve between now and November, but the most tangible early indicator — advertising spending by conservative groups against Democratic candidates — shows how intensely they are focused on the new health-care law. | The GOP’s message may well evolve between now and November, but the most tangible early indicator — advertising spending by conservative groups against Democratic candidates — shows how intensely they are focused on the new health-care law. |
| “It has been the predominant focus of both our grass roots and our advertising efforts,” said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, the primary political operation of a donor network backed by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch. | “It has been the predominant focus of both our grass roots and our advertising efforts,” said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, the primary political operation of a donor network backed by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch. |
| Of the roughly $30 million that the group has spent on ads since August, Phillips said, at least 95 percent has been spent on spots about the health-care law. | Of the roughly $30 million that the group has spent on ads since August, Phillips said, at least 95 percent has been spent on spots about the health-care law. |
| Democrats also have been tracking that spending closely as a gauge of what their candidates will be facing. | Democrats also have been tracking that spending closely as a gauge of what their candidates will be facing. |
| In Senate races, where control of the chamber is on the line, all but $240,000 of the $21.2 million being spent on television advertising by super PACs has gone into attacks centered on the Affordable Care Act, said Matt Canter, deputy executive director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. | |
| The exceptions were ad buys in three states that criticized Democratic senators for supporting President Obama’s judicial nominees. | The exceptions were ad buys in three states that criticized Democratic senators for supporting President Obama’s judicial nominees. |
| Phillips insisted that AFP’s money has been well spent. | Phillips insisted that AFP’s money has been well spent. |
| “It’s resonating now,” he said of the anti-Obamacare advertising. “If you look at the job approval rating of these members we’re holding accountable, their job approvals are going down. Really, there’s been no other exchange of ideas and issues in their states. There is no other issue than Obamacare.” | “It’s resonating now,” he said of the anti-Obamacare advertising. “If you look at the job approval rating of these members we’re holding accountable, their job approvals are going down. Really, there’s been no other exchange of ideas and issues in their states. There is no other issue than Obamacare.” |
| Republicans also say that by keeping their focus on the law, they are also sending a broader message — “a much bigger issue, and that issue is credibility and competence,” said Brad Dayspring, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. | Republicans also say that by keeping their focus on the law, they are also sending a broader message — “a much bigger issue, and that issue is credibility and competence,” said Brad Dayspring, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. |
| Some Democrats also agree that the attacks have been effective thus far, particularly in certain parts of the country. | Some Democrats also agree that the attacks have been effective thus far, particularly in certain parts of the country. |
| “It seems to be working,” said Gov. Mike Beebe of Arkansas, where his fellow Democrat, Sen. Mark Pryor, is engaged in one of the most difficult reelection battles anywhere in the country. | “It seems to be working,” said Gov. Mike Beebe of Arkansas, where his fellow Democrat, Sen. Mark Pryor, is engaged in one of the most difficult reelection battles anywhere in the country. |
| “That’s the only thing they are running against him on,” Beebe said of how the health-care issue is playing in Pryor’s race. “And right now, it’s a dead heat, if you believe the polls. Frankly, I don’t know what else they’ve got to run on. And frankly, in our state, as across the South, there is a huge dislike for what they refer to as Obamacare.” | “That’s the only thing they are running against him on,” Beebe said of how the health-care issue is playing in Pryor’s race. “And right now, it’s a dead heat, if you believe the polls. Frankly, I don’t know what else they’ve got to run on. And frankly, in our state, as across the South, there is a huge dislike for what they refer to as Obamacare.” |
| But while animus toward the Affordable Care Act remains, most Americans appear to be more worried about other things. | But while animus toward the Affordable Care Act remains, most Americans appear to be more worried about other things. |
| Last August, when Gallup asked Americans to name the country’s top problem, 25 percent picked health care — putting it higher among their concerns than any other issue listed by the pollsters. | Last August, when Gallup asked Americans to name the country’s top problem, 25 percent picked health care — putting it higher among their concerns than any other issue listed by the pollsters. |
| But in a survey released Feb. 17, only 15 percent said health care was the biggest problem. It ranked fourth-highest — after unemployment and jobs; the economy in general and dissatisfaction with government and politicians. | But in a survey released Feb. 17, only 15 percent said health care was the biggest problem. It ranked fourth-highest — after unemployment and jobs; the economy in general and dissatisfaction with government and politicians. |
| “While health care is a very important issue, Republicans must focus on what is the overwhelmingly top issue — jobs and the economy, just like they did in 2010 with the question ‘Where are the Jobs?’ ” said David Winston, a pollster who advises House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). | “While health care is a very important issue, Republicans must focus on what is the overwhelmingly top issue — jobs and the economy, just like they did in 2010 with the question ‘Where are the Jobs?’ ” said David Winston, a pollster who advises House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). |
| In Winston’s view, it is a myth that the last midterm election was swung by voter outrage over Obama’s health-care proposal, which was then being hotly debated in Congress. | In Winston’s view, it is a myth that the last midterm election was swung by voter outrage over Obama’s health-care proposal, which was then being hotly debated in Congress. |
| Only 18 percent in the 2010 exit poll ranked health care as the top issue facing the country, compared with 63 percent who felt that way about the economy. And those who did put health care at the top of their list were slightly more likely to have voted Democrat than Republican. | Only 18 percent in the 2010 exit poll ranked health care as the top issue facing the country, compared with 63 percent who felt that way about the economy. And those who did put health care at the top of their list were slightly more likely to have voted Democrat than Republican. |
| The vehemence of the Republican base against the Affordable Care Act is so intense that it can be perilous for GOP candidates to suggest that there is any part of it that is salvageable. | The vehemence of the Republican base against the Affordable Care Act is so intense that it can be perilous for GOP candidates to suggest that there is any part of it that is salvageable. |
| In Georgia’s crowded Senate primary, Rep. Jack Kingston has come under heavy fire for saying during a WGAU radio interview last November: “A lot of conservatives say no, just step back and let this thing fall to pieces on its own. But I don’t think that that’s always the responsible thing to do. I think we need to be working for things that improve health care for all of us.” | In Georgia’s crowded Senate primary, Rep. Jack Kingston has come under heavy fire for saying during a WGAU radio interview last November: “A lot of conservatives say no, just step back and let this thing fall to pieces on its own. But I don’t think that that’s always the responsible thing to do. I think we need to be working for things that improve health care for all of us.” |
| One of his opponents, Rep. Paul Broun, pounced with a Web ad attacking him, and the conservative blog Redstate.com fired back with a post headlined: “Jack Kingston has surrendered on Obamacare.” | One of his opponents, Rep. Paul Broun, pounced with a Web ad attacking him, and the conservative blog Redstate.com fired back with a post headlined: “Jack Kingston has surrendered on Obamacare.” |
| Jindal, however, argued: “I think the president did identify some real problems in the health-care system, when it comes to folks with pre-existing conditions, people on the individual market that are priced out of affordable health care. I think our party needs a detailed solution on health care.” | Jindal, however, argued: “I think the president did identify some real problems in the health-care system, when it comes to folks with pre-existing conditions, people on the individual market that are priced out of affordable health care. I think our party needs a detailed solution on health care.” |
| Some organizations are offering a mixed message, which is more evidence that the politics of health care are far from clear-cut. | Some organizations are offering a mixed message, which is more evidence that the politics of health care are far from clear-cut. |
| The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, for instance, is running ads in Florida attacking Democratic House candidate Alex Sink for supporting a law that it calls “a disaster for families and seniors.” | The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, for instance, is running ads in Florida attacking Democratic House candidate Alex Sink for supporting a law that it calls “a disaster for families and seniors.” |
| But in a “State of American Business” address last month, chamber President Thomas J. Donohue said that despite his organization’s efforts to block the passage of the law, “The administration is obviously committed to keeping the law in place, so the Chamber is not out opposing it. We’ve been working pragmatically to fix those parts of Obamacare that can be fixed,while doing everything possible to make regulations and mandates as manageable as possible for businesses.” | But in a “State of American Business” address last month, chamber President Thomas J. Donohue said that despite his organization’s efforts to block the passage of the law, “The administration is obviously committed to keeping the law in place, so the Chamber is not out opposing it. We’ve been working pragmatically to fix those parts of Obamacare that can be fixed,while doing everything possible to make regulations and mandates as manageable as possible for businesses.” |
| Scott Clement, Peyton Craighill, Alice Crites and Tom Hamburger contributed to this report. | Scott Clement, Peyton Craighill, Alice Crites and Tom Hamburger contributed to this report. |