National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) has an unusual message: He agrees with Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
“I don’t say this often, but as we enter 2014, I’m in complete agreement with Debbie Wasserman-Schultz,” Walden writes in a memo obtained by The Hill. “She says House Democrats will be running on ObamaCare. Excellent. See you on the campaign trail. This is the campaign Republicans want – and one the country deserves. House Republicans are eager for this debate, and we’re ready for this campaign.”
Walden and House Republicans have been maintaining a laser-like focus on the controversial law since its rocky autumn rollout, which Wasserman Schultz has promised Democrats will run on in 2014. He predicts the law’s early struggles will continue, and paints a rosy picture of his party’s chances in the upcoming midterm election.
“Despite wishful thinking on the part of some Democrats, ObamaCare is not going away as a political issue – and it’s not getting better for the millions of Americans who have been negatively impacted. The failures we’ve seen so far are just the beginning — and the consequences aren’t just political,” he continues.
{mosads}He mentions the retirement of Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and the decision of a top-tier Democratic candidate to drop his bid against Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) as evidence that Democrats face candidate struggles.
Republicans have their own concerns: A number of swing-state Republican congressmen have retired in recent weeks, creating numerous new opportunities for House Democarts. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) announced on Monday he won’t run for reelection, joining fellow retiring GOP Reps. Frank Wolf (Va.), Tom Latham (Iowa), Jon Runyan (N.J.) and Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) in leaving their party open seats to defend.