Gallup Poll: Obama Edges Out Romney On Health Care Issues, But Romney Leads On The Budget Deficit
This new survey measures how the public views President Barack Obama and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on three top issues. Meanwhile, news outlets examine how candidates and organizations are positioning themselves on the campaign trail.
Politico: Poll: Barack Obama, Mitt Romney On 3 Top Issues
Eighty-four percent believe that the cost of health care is an extremely or very important issue facing the country; 82 percent believe the same for unemployment; and 82 percent believe so for the federal budget deficit, the Gallup survey shows. Obama and Romney split ownership of the top three issues: Obama is preferred over Romney 51 percent to 44 percent on the issue of health care; while Romney beats Obama 54 percent to 39 percent on the issue of the budget deficit (Mak, 5/21).
The Associated Press: Romney, U.S. Sen. Brown Play Down Past Connections
Democrats are busy trying to make voters aware of the ties between Romney and Brown, especially in Massachusetts, where Brown faces a tough fight against likely Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren. Democrats note that Romney and Brown both supported an amendment in the Senate this year that would have allowed employers or health insurers to deny coverage for services they said violated their moral or religious beliefs, including birth control. The amendment failed (LeBlanc, 5/21).
Des Moines Register: Romney Targets Swing State Voters In Conference Call With Iowans
Romney had a specific message for seniors and young voters. "Seniors are having a hard time with this president and have been very disappointed," he said. "One thing I can tell you, I'm not going to be out there cutting Medicare. I'm going to make sure that we keep Medicare solvent, and Social Security solvent, so our seniors can always depend on a program which is not just there for them but is there for coming generations" (Jacobs, 5/18).
Reuters: Top Republican Woman In Congress Becomes A Force
[Rep. Cathy] McMorris Rodgers said she is determined to court women to support the Republican Party -- and Mitt Romney's bid for president -- by talking about pocketbook issues such as jobs and health care. That includes eliminating Obama's health care overhaul, which she says is too expensive and hurts small businesses. "Republicans who only talk about finances are not going to attract women voters," McMorris Rodgers said. "Let's talk about health care choices ... families, raising children and trying to find a job in a tough economy. These are women's issues and Republican issues for 2012" (Ferraro, 5/18).
And a health care group spent more than $44 million in 2010 to help fund TV ads attacking Democrats --
Politico Pro: Report: 'Patients' Rights' Group Funded Ads
A group that sounds like it's entirely focused on health care doled out more than $44 million in 2010 to other tax exempt groups that aired television ads attacking Democrats, according to an investigation by the Center for Responsive Politics released Friday. The Center to Protect Patients’ Rights has begun spending money on similar attempts this year, according to the CRP, a nonpartisan money-tracking group (Haberkorn, 5/18).