Today Senate Democrats are putting forward a discharge petition to overturn GOP junk insurance plans that don’t cover pre-existing conditions or essential health benefits like some prescription drugs, maternity care or hospital visits. A few things to keep in mind about the issue of health care:
1) Polling shows “health care tops the list of voters’ most important issues” and they trust Democrats on it more:
CNN TN/AZ: “Health care tops the list of voters’ most important issues in both states.”
CNN MO/NV: “Health care tops voters’ priority list in both states.”
Fox News: “Democrats are considered the party that would better handle health care — at a time when most prioritize health care in deciding their vote for Congress.”
Kaiser Health: “Polling shows heightened public concern over pre-existing conditions.”
MORE POLLS: DSCC Polling Memo: Republicans At Odds with Voters on Defining Issue of 2018.
2) On the trail — and in their paid media — Senate Republican candidates are playing defense on health care:
Politico: Republicans ‘duck and cover’ on pre-existing conditions.
HuffPost: GOP Senate Candidates Are Scrambling To Rewrite Their Record On Pre-Existing Conditions.
TPM: Anti-Obamacare Lawsuit Threatens to Drag Down GOP In the Midterm.
CLEAR EXAMPLE: Riverfront Times: Josh Hawley’s ‘Pre-Existing Conditions’ Ad Is Officially a National Joke.
3) Democrats have been laser focused on this issue for 2 years and are driving the contrast home:
Vox: Half of 2018’s Democratic campaign ads are about health care.
Wall Street Journal: Health Care Crowds Out Jobs, Taxes in Midterm Ads.
New York Times: Democratic Candidates Can’t Stop Talking About Health Care.
Washington Post: Senate Democrats stay focused on health care even during short August recess.
MEANWHILE: Bloomberg: Internal GOP Poll: ‘We’ve Lost the Messaging Battle’ on Tax Cuts.
