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ObamaCare gives incumbent Dems the jitters
The Hill ^ | October 26, 2013 | Alexander Bolton

Posted on 10/26/2013 12:25:04 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

The Affordable Care Act is casting a shadow over Democrats’ chances in Senate battleground states, putting pressure on vulnerable Senate Democrats to distance themselves from the law’s clumsy rollout.

Five vulnerable Democratic incumbents who this week called for extending the law’s enrollment period and delaying penalties for not signing up on time come from states where voters hold unfavorable views of the law.

Some Democratic strategists, however, argue the issue is not as potent as Republicans think and predict it could boomerang on conservatives who have pushed for a full repeal of the law without offering detailed proposals to replace it.

Republican-sponsored and independent polls in Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire and North Carolina show the law is significantly more unpopular than popular.

Internal NRSC polling in New Hampshire from late September showed 40 percent of respondents approve of the law compared to 54 percent who disapprove. Within those categories, 47 percent strongly disapprove and only 27 percent strongly approve.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) asked Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius in a letter dated Oct. 22 to extend the open enrollment period beyond the current end date of March. 31, 2014. Shaheen shared her concerns about the law with White House officials in April. She warned then that many small businesses in her home state do not know how to comply with the law.

A Democratic strategist pointed to a New England College poll conducted Oct. 7 - 9 that showed 58 percent of 1063 registered voters in New Hampshire support the Affordable Care Act.

Internal polling conducted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee in May showed that only 32 percent of respondents in Alaska support the law while 59 percent oppose it. Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), who faces a tough re-election, signed Shaheen’s letter to Sebelius and has sponsored legislation to delay ObamaCare’s employer mandate for two years.

Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), who are on the Republicans’ 2014 target list, also signed the letter.

An OnMessage survey conducted in mid October for Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) showed that only 33 percent of likely voters in Arkansas favor ObamaCare while 62 percent oppose it.

“It’s theoretically possible for the administration to iron out the kinks of this program and opposition could fade but that seems highly unlikely,” the pollster, Wes Anderson, wrote in a memo to Cotton’s campaign. “It’s far more likely that the issue will remain a serious hurdle for Sen. Pryor all the way through Election Day.”

A poll by Magellan Strategies, a GOP-affiliated firm, found that 60 percent of voters are less likely to support Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) because of her support for ObamaCare. The survey manipulated the answer, however, but noting in its question that the law “increased insurance premiums by 88 percent for people who buy their own health insurance.”

An Elon University Poll from September found that half of respondents believe ObamaCare will make the healthcare situation worse in North Carolina and only 27 percent of independents think it will make it better.

Already one Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) — who is not up for re-election next year — has said he will co-sponsor legislation with Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) to delay the mandate for a year.

Senate Democratic aides say Republicans have exaggerated the split in their caucus. They argue that extending the enrollment period is a minor change that would not undermine the structure of ObamaCare.

“Democrats are not divided on ACA, some just want to be proactive about making clear they think there are issues that need to be tweaked,” said a senior Democratic aide. “No one thinks it’s perfect, but no one wants to repeal it or do anything major that could harm its long-term prospects for success.”

The aide said Senate Democratic leaders, however, do not plan to support efforts to delay penalties beyond what the administration has already announced.

Democrats are trying to turn the issue to their advantage by drawing a bright line between their proposals to improve it and Tea Party-fueled calls to repeal the law entirely, including popular provisions such as the one allowing children to remain on their parents health insurance until age 26.

“Only 30 percent of the public supports the Republican position calling for a full and total repeal of the law and a continuation of the same types of partisan fights that shut down the government,” said Matt Canter, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

NRSC spokesman Brad Dayspring said public opinion in battleground states is what counts most.

“When you go into each of these key 2014 states people are overwhelmingly opposed to ObamaCare,” he said. “They know full well just how unpopular ObamaCare is in these states. That’s why the DSCC was encouraging their candidates to back away from the law and start supporting extending the enrollment period.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: 113th; 2014midterms; abortion; aca; deathpanels; healthcare; obamacare; senatedems; worrieddems; zerocare
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Jitters??? It should be the “HEEB-BEE JEEBEES!”


21 posted on 10/26/2013 1:42:55 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: yellowdoghunter

I prefer Maness. He’s a standout guy, and Cassidy is too liberal for a red state like Louisiana.


22 posted on 10/26/2013 1:50:27 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: SandRat
Jitters??? It should be the “HEEB-BEE JEEBEES!”

Dems??? It should be RATs.

23 posted on 10/26/2013 1:56:05 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER ("The government" is nothing but a RAT jobs program)
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To: bigbob

And here I had always believed the supermen of the Democrat liberal party (or “Partei” to give it a proper Germanic spin) could shape, control and direct any “blow-up” in the direction they wanted, any time and under any circumstances.

But strangely, they have not yet been able to actively and definitively attribute the “failure to launch” of the Obamacare sign-up website to the Republicans. Actually, there are two problems that are engaged closely - they are trying to sell a product that is of little or no benefit to most of the “customers” who will be forced to either sign up, or go with no insurance coverage at all, and almost nobody can get online to even review the options. Those few that do get through, find the promises are pretty ephemeral when it gets down to actual application.

The longer the Current Regime now squatting in the White Hut (or “Spite Hut”) tries to fix things, the longer it will be before any operative plan gets up and running for the enrollment of new members in the various aspects of the Obamacare scheme, or scam, or sham, or just downright shame.

And it has been said, “You can’t fix stupid”. They will just keep trying and trying to make this monstrosity work, and the more time, treasure, toil and tears they spend upon it, the more convoluted it shall become.

Have they never heard of one of the labors of Hercules, the cleaning out of the Augean Stables? That would not ever gain the approval of the EPA today.


24 posted on 10/26/2013 1:56:36 PM PDT by alloysteel (Men may not always be capable of evil, but they are always capable of incompetence.)
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To: SandRat; Cincinatus' Wife
ObamaCare gives incumbent RATS the HEEB-BEE JEEBEES!
25 posted on 10/26/2013 1:58:02 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER ("The government" is nothing but a RAT jobs program)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER
In that case make it the Bubonic Plague
26 posted on 10/26/2013 1:59:18 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I am F*&#ing sick of the "you have to have a detailed plan" red herring.

Before Obmama-doesn't-care, 89% of Americans liked their health insurance policy. Rates were lower. If we could somehow get ourselves back to 2009, we would be improving things over today.

So, the "moderate" argument is that we are supposed to continue to suffer under this crap while we wait for a consensus solution. No way.

27 posted on 10/26/2013 1:59:41 PM PDT by Lysandru
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I don’t understand politics. All the Dems are stressing about Obamacare and how it will hurt their election chances, correct? But, it was the GOp who took the hit for teying to delay Obamacare for a year. What gives. Are voters insane? The two issues are one and the same!


28 posted on 10/26/2013 2:04:12 PM PDT by Mustangman (The GOP)
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To: TLI; Lysandru
a full repeal of the law without offering detailed proposals to replace it.

Oh, the detailed plan is so simple it is 0 pages long...We're into NOTHING!

It applies to a lot of things:

Nothing's better than ObamaCare.
Nothing's better than the Department of Education.
Nothing's better than the Department of Labor.
Nothing's better than the Department of Hell and Human Sacrifice.
Nothing's better than HUD.
Nothing's better than the EPA.
Nothing's better than the TSA.
Nothing's better than the IRS.

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

29 posted on 10/26/2013 2:17:09 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER ("The government" is nothing but a RAT jobs program)
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To: Viennacon

North Carolina. Hagan is toast.


30 posted on 10/26/2013 2:24:48 PM PDT by DownInFlames
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Will people that get their insurance cancelled because of Obamacare continue voting for lying Democrats
31 posted on 10/26/2013 2:25:52 PM PDT by jyro (French-like Democrats wave the white flag of surrender while we are winning)
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To: The Great RJ

Can’t wait for reid’s response after mac daddy shi*s in his mouth so he knows what his puppet master wants him to say.


32 posted on 10/26/2013 2:34:20 PM PDT by chiefqc
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

They got screwed by a hapless Barry. Hope they are happy a-hats.


33 posted on 10/26/2013 2:35:35 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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To: DownInFlames

Well, I’d be more worried about that race than others. For some reason, Kay Hagan has a high approvals, and NC is not being affected much by the premium fluctuations. She’s also a solid fundraiser.

However, unlike Pryor and others, she hasn’t made any blue-dog votes. She voted FOR gun control. She’s as liberal and North-eastern Democrats, and that could hurt her in a state that is trending red.

I really want her gone, just to see Senator Brannon in action.


34 posted on 10/26/2013 2:41:03 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: Viennacon
Arkansas
Montana
South Dakota
West Virginia

If they can't take out the RAT from Alaska then it isn't going to happen. Certainly there has to be a decent Repub /Conservative to run against him? Hello Sarah!

35 posted on 10/26/2013 2:41:08 PM PDT by DAC21
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Repeal and replace... with free-market capitalism. Free markets are always best. Anything else would be unconstitutional anyway.


36 posted on 10/26/2013 2:45:16 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: DAC21

Sarah won’t run.

In the race right now, you have Miller, Sullivan, and Treadwell.

Treadwell’s conservative credentials are questionable, and Miller will lose.
I’m backing Sullivan

You have to remember Alaska is not as red as people think it is.
Begich is a very experienced campaigner, political operator, and fundraiser. He’s not going to be easy to take down.

The easiness of each race, as I’d rank them, is as follows.

South Dakota
West Virginia
Montana - DRAW - Arkansas
Louisiana
Alaska
North Carolina
Michigan
Iowa
New Hampshire
Colorado

The reason I say Landrieu is more vulnerable than Begich is because she was excoriated during the 2010 town halls. Begich wasn’t given much heat from what I can remember. Louisiana hates Obamacare, and will punish Mary in 2014.


37 posted on 10/26/2013 2:54:12 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Yes, “don’t listen to the NYTimes” ... Today’s FR has a post from NYTimes doing just that. But get this: it is an opinion piece from a GENETIC republican self-described, name of John Taft, descendent of Willam H.Taft former pres.

It is an appalling piece certain to be held close by those loyal RINO repubs of the elite party nincompoops. Even talks about McCarthy hearings— honest to God, and how Repubs had the “good sense” to remove McCarthy after Welch’s “have you no decency” .Compares Ted Cruz to McCarthy— well guess what, BOTH of these guys are/were right!


38 posted on 10/26/2013 2:54:26 PM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: concerned about politics
Here's some ideas: 1) Medical Savings Accounts/most medical expense paid out of pocket (what the prices drop like a rock and service improve), 2) High deductible/cheap medical insurance intended to only cover catastrophic disease and injury, 3) allowing individuals to deduct health insurance cost (like business can), 4) medical tort law reform for starters, and 5) life time Medicaid time limits for able bodied people to protect benefits for those that really can't care for themselves.
39 posted on 10/26/2013 2:56:12 PM PDT by Red Dog #1
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

-—gives them the jitters? Well, shoot, as soon as they sign up for Odumbocare they’l be able to get a shot for that? They voted for it-—let em wear it-—and fix it by themselves. Begging for Republican help should get some real laughs.


40 posted on 10/26/2013 2:58:00 PM PDT by cherokee1 (skip the names---just kick the buttz)
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