MN-Sen: Coleman Runs From McCain's Health Care Plan

Marc Ambinder catches it:

A reporter tries hard to see whether Sen. Norm Coleman's spokesperson will acknowledge that his boss supports Sen. John McCain's health care plan.

It's an obvious question, given that Democratic candidate Al Franken spent the day praising Barack Obama's plan and even sent out a press release asking "With McCain's Health Care Plan Coming Under Scrutiny, Franken Asks: Would Norm Coleman Vote For It?."

Coleman spokesperson Luke Friedrich won't say.  Four times. Turning routine tit-for-tat into something more damaging for Coleman.

It's not an easy question to answer. Today's Wall Street Journal reports that McCain's plan would cut Medicare and Medicaid funding by "$1.3 trillion over 10 years" to pay for its tax credits.

Coleman will have to answer eventually: his race is close. Pollster.com's average shows Norm ahead by just 1.4%, with 3rd party candidate Dean Barkley stealing from both.

This race is winnable. Senator Feingold was just up in Minnesota pitching in - let's join him.

Throw Coleman a heavy $10 anchor over at the MyDD Road to 60 page. Or even a $20 or $50 anchor. They're heavier.

Update [2008-10-6 19:48:39 by Todd Beeton]:Does anyone get the sense, as I do, that Coleman's spokesman's evasiveness here is a sign that Coleman perceives McCain as somewhat toxic? It's telling that while Franken embraces Obama's plan, Coleman flees from McCain's. Is McCain the new Bush? Are we going to see other downticket Republicans, especially in blue or purple states, throw McCain under the bus? This could get fun...well, more fun than it already is.

Tags: Election 08, MN-Sen, Road to 60 (all tags)

Comments

7 Comments

Yes

McCain is the new Bush.

The House Republicans have already fled from him, and the rest of them don't want to get sucked down in the coming under-toad...

by chrisblask 2008-10-06 03:57PM | 0 recs
Re: Yes

And Bush is the new Herbert Hoover.

I gave Al some love, and probably will again before the end. I think he is evolving nicely from goofy comedian to thoughtful articulate progressive.

It'll be fun to have him in DC. God I miss Paul Wellstone, though.

by meddembob 2008-10-06 04:03PM | 0 recs
Coleman Does see McCain as toxic

If you listen to last nights debate you would hear him clumsily avoiding any mention of McCain let alone Bush.

Barkley is stealing 3 votes from Norm for every 2 from Al.
This race will be close but not really all that close 2%-3% in Al's favor. Barkley will get 19% at best.

Norm has tried to drive Franken's negatives up and has just done damage to himself.

by Judeling 2008-10-06 04:25PM | 0 recs
Re: MN-Sen: Coleman Runs

I think your update nails it, as does chrisblask. First think I thought of reading this is McCain does = Bush in MN. If that ST poll is anywhere close to accurate (+19 for O) the last thing Coleman wants is to be associated with McCain. keep in mind Coleman also said back a few months ago that if the Convention wasn't being held in his State he wouldn't go.

Thing about Coleman is he is a blowing-in-the-wind politician. Use to be DFL, switched, and I would not be shocked if he won narrowly if he switched again. Although that might just kill his political career once and for all.

(duh, just remembered, he is angling for a Leadership slot in the Senate after the bloodbath of the fall settles down)

by notedgeways 2008-10-06 04:27PM | 0 recs
We need

another "Road To 60" drive.

Put the graph on the front page and let us push it all week!

by kevin22262 2008-10-06 05:20PM | 0 recs
just listened to a radio debate

between Tom Latham (incumbent, IA-04) and Becky Greenwald.

When a caller asked whether Latham would support McCain's health care plan, Latham hedged for a while, finally saying that he would support some of the tax benefits to make it easier to get health insurance, but not necessarily McCain's whole health care plan.

by desmoinesdem 2008-10-06 05:29PM | 0 recs
Re: MN-Sen: Coleman Runs From McCain

McCain is just the current face of it, but it is the whole Republican brand that is toxic, not McCain specifically.  McCain CAN'T run from being a Republican, but guys like Coleman and Gordon Smith can sure try...

by NJIndependent 2008-10-06 05:36PM | 0 recs

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