The 2014 campaign is kicking off with Obamacare at center stage. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is
expanding their Web ad campaign with this video into 12 new competitive House districts. The ad, already targeting 44 vulnerable Republicans, features people who've been able to get insurance or get more affordable insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and what they'd lose if Republicans achieved repeal.
“I take insulin and 12 other medications, and my daughter’s medicine costs $700 a month. We couldn’t afford it without healthcare reform,” Diane, from Denver, says in the ad. [...]
Added to the DCCC’s list in the new offensive are GOP Reps. Larry Bucshon (Ind.), Rodney Davis (IL), Chris Gibson (NY), Lynn Jenkins (KS), David Joyce (OH), David McKinley (WV), Steve Pearce (NM), Reid Ribble (WI) and Daniel Webster (FL) as well as Republican candidates Steve Lonegan, running for retiring Rep. Jon Runyan’s (NJ) seat, and Alex Mooney and Charlotte Lane, running for Rep. Shelley Moore Capito’s (R-WV) open seat.
The Republican National Committee is
responding with radio ads in 12 states, against both House and Senate members. Three guesses what they're harping on:
“President Obama and [Senator/Representative] said if you like your insurance plan you can keep it under Obamacare. They lied to you,” the ads say, with the sound of New Years’ celebrations in the background. “2014 is your chance to hold [Senator/Representative] accountable. Tell him this is one New Year’s resolution you’re sticking to.” [...]
The ads will target Sens. Mark Begich (D-AK), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Mark Udall (D-CO), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Reps. Bruce Braley (IA-01), Gary Peters (MI-14), Tim Bishop (NY-01) and Nick Rahall (WV-03).
Republicans are convinced that the president's stumble on health insurance cancellations has legs that will last through November, but with
every horror story about cancellations collapsing under scrutiny, that issue is likely to lose salience. Reality will set in, people will get insurance and most of them will be happy about it. The threat of the loss of that protection, though, could be a pretty damned effective motivator for voters, as the DCCC realizes with this new campaign.