AARP ads target Senate swing votes

AARP is ratcheting up pressure on senators to vote against the Republican ObamaCare repeal bill.

The lobbying group purchased new radio ads urging key swing senators to vote against the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act.

The ads target Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). The ads will run through July.  

In the ad, a woman is worried about the impact the bill will have on her elderly, sick father.

{mosads}”It’s bad enough that this healthcare bill will raise my costs. But it could cost my dad everything,” the woman says in the ad.

Senate GOP leadership will be trying to regain momentum on the legislation next week after losing steam during the recess. Republican senators have been downplaying the chances of a quick vote on their ObamaCare replacement bill amid divisions in the party over what the legislation should look like.

Senators said this week they likely won’t be voting until at least mid-July, and some in the party are beginning to eye backup plans in case the legislation fails.

Senate Republicans had originally planned to vote on the bill last week, before the July Fourth recess, but leaders delayed action when it became clear the measure would fail to clear a procedural hurdle.

The AARP radio ads are the latest push from the group, which has been vocal in its opposition to both the House and Senate ObamaCare repeal bills. Senate GOP leaders have said they will be changing the legislation from the version first introduced last week, but AARP said it won’t be enough.

“No matter what deals are cut, the bill will raise premiums and take coverage away from millions of Americans,” AARP said.

Just three Republican senators voting “no” would sink the bill, as Republicans have a narrow 52-48 Senate majority.