In Wisconsin, Senate Candidates Zero in on Health Care Debate

In the Wisconsin Senate race, Democrat Russ Feingold touts his vote for health care reform

/ AP Photo/Dennis Cook

The Wisconsin senate race has gotten a lot of attention recently as Republican Ron Johnson has taken a lead over incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold. Feingold is hitting the airwaves with an ad that touts his vote for health care reform.

The ad features regular people stating that Feingold's vote protected consumers from the worst insurance company practices.

"Senator Feingold has always been on our side fighting the insurance companies," says Cheryl, a business consultant. "Mr. Johnson would put insurance companies back in control," says John, a community advocate. "Ron Johnson, hands off my healthcare," says Jill, a nurse. Feingold endorses the message because "you deserve a senator who's on your side" 

The flipside is that, like many GOP challengers, his opponent Ron Johnson is running an ad attacking Feingold for his vote for health care:

"A majority of Wisconsinites opposed the government's takeover of health care, but Russ Feingold voted for it anyway," says the announcer. Saying that he "toed the party line, instead of listening to us. Higher taxes, higher insurance rates, lower quality," and that the bill cut Medicare by $500 Billion, the announcer ends the simple, but hard hitting ad with this: "Feingold put Washington instead of Wisconsin."

If you missed it, take a look at this Ron Johnson ad that is getting a lot of attention:

The ad is Johnson at a white board, saying there are 100 members of the Senate, 57 of them "including Russ Feingold" are lawyers. "That'd be fine if we had a lawsuit to settle, but we have an economy to fix," Johnson says. "There are zero manufacturers, and one accountant. It's no wonder we are losing jobs and piling up debt. I'm not a politician, I'm an accountant and a manufacturer. I know how to balance a budget and I do know create jobs. And that's something we can really use." Johnson doesn't say he's a Republican, which may help explain his lead over Feingold in a traditionally blue state.

Here's Feingold's ad:

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Robert Hendin is a CBS News senior political producer. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here.

[DoubleDutchPolitics]

Finally a Democrat who isn't spineless and has the courage of his convictions, way to go Russ!

http://www.doubledutchpolitics.com/

I really hope more Dems come out in support of their accomplishments. This idea that running scared and looking weak will rally the base is nonsense.

Time to close the so called "enthusiasm gap", motivate the base, and stop fishing in the wrong pond.

[jgg000101]

unfortunately for feingold, the more that comes out about the healthcare bill, the more it makes him look like an idiot for voting for it. It wasn't a tax, now it is a tax. You'll be able to keep your current plan, but now you won't. The healthcare plan is "deficit neutral, but now it isn't. It doesn't cover abortions, but now it does. The healthcare bill will lower costs, but costs are already skyrocketing. It's no wonder democrats are running away from this dog.
And feingold isn't "spineless", he's brainless for embracing it to his own detriment. Maybe he should also run on the enormous success of the stimulus, too. That'll surely bury him.

[Remember_in_November]

I hope more Dems come out in support of their 'accomplishments', too! They have no courage....they do what they are told by the far-left leadership and stick it to their constituents. If they had courage, they would not exempt themselves from Obamacare.

[RobAla]

In this debate, the Democrats come out as losers. The crammed a horrible health care bill down the throats of the majority of Americans who do not want it. Most Democrats are running away from this subject. In fact, in my state, I have not seen an ad or political flyer in which a Democrat candidate even states that he or she is a Democrat. They are totally silent on their party affiliation. Very few Democrats want President Obama to campaign for them. They have pushed an extremist agenda on the nation, and they know the nation does not approve.