Some Democratic hopefuls dare to tout health-care overhaul

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

It happens so rarely, it makes news: A few Democratic candidates have started to run television ads daring to defend President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul.

Most Democrats are trying to avoid campaigning on what should have been the party’s signature issue, but the lonely bunch who’ve stuck their necks out may finally be hitting on a message. Some are using constituents to vouch for specific benefits that only recently took effect, changes whose poll-tested popularity isn’t in question.

The argument won’t stop Nov. 2. Democrats will have to keep defending the health-care law in the next Congress and on into the 2012 presidential and congressional campaign. And they badly need to find their voice with a message that can connect with middle-class voters.

“One thing has helped them,” said Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster. “On Sept. 23, a bunch of benefits went into effect, and Democrats had something real to talk about as opposed to theoretical. If they don’t talk about it, they’ll get attacked, so they might as well put out their own point of view.”

The law’s big coverage expansion to more than 30 million uninsured people doesn’t come until 2014, along with a complete ban on insurers turning away those with medical problems. But people now renewing their plan for next year are already starting to see some benefits, including preventive services without co-payments and coverage for young adults up to age 26 on a parent’s policy.

There’s no authoritative tally of the ads run by Democrats on health care, but a rough count suggests that those who voted against the law are advertising it more than those who supported its hard-fought passage. At least a dozen Democrats have taken pains in their ads to remind constituents that they voted “No.”

Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., labeled the plan “Obamacare,” adopting the disparaging term Republicans are fond of. And Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., has a new ad that says “he stood up to [Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and Washington insiders and voted against their health- care overhaul.”

Still, at least seven Democrats have run ads in favor of the new law. Most are in competitive races, and more are cropping up.

They have common themes. Almost all attempt to link Republican opponents to the health- insurance industry. They focus on benefits already in effect, such as protection for children against being denied coverage because of medical problems And some use constituents in cameo appearances.

A template of sorts is an ad by Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., first aired around the beginning of the month. It hits all the themes, and finishes with constituents telling his opponent businessman Ron Johnson: “Hands off my health care.”