Democrats Pledge to Use Ryan Budget in Every House Race

The DCCC is promising to run against the Ryan budget in every district race.
“With Mitt Romney naming Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate, the Republican budget authored by Ryan is now the ticket mate for every Republican in a Congressional race this November,” a DCCC’s memo states.
“From now until Election Day, Democrats will be on offense and seizing the opportunity to run and win on the issue of the Ryan budget that protects millionaires and special interests, while hurting Medicare for seniors.”
That line of attack is credited for the 2011 upset win by Democrat Kathy Hochul in a special election. Her upstate New York district leaned Republican. Uncharacteristically the Republicans are standing their ground. The National Republican Congressional Committee is spoiling for a fight on this issue and is planning to use the $700 billion cut to Medicare as its weapon of choice in its attack on Obamacare.
“They’re coming. Democrats are asking for them. They want a debate about ObamaCare’s $700 billion in Medicare cuts, and they are about to get it,” the NRCC said in an email blast Monday. The email pointed to ads the RCCC had run in 2010 against Democrats who were later defeated.
Already, the NRCC is taking swings at Hochul, the poster-child for successful attacks on the Ryan Budget.
“Kathy Hochul voted to keep more than $740 billion in cuts to Western New Yorkers Medicare to fund a government takeover of healthcare. Hochul’s plan pushes Medicare toward bankruptcy faster and leaves seniors facing an uncertain future. No amount of finger pointing or name calling can change that fact,” said NRCC spokesman Nat Sillin in a statement.
Republicans argue that Hochul was successful because the Republican candidate did a poor job of making the case for the Ryan budget. Now, with Ryan in the spotlight advocating for similar reforms, voters will develop a better understanding of what it means. Democrats will need to offer more specifics and less inflammatory rhetoric.