The Obamacare wars return to the campaign trail: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of From the policy deskevening bulletin that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill from the NBC News Politics team.

In today’s edition, senior national political correspondent Sahil Kapur examines how the political fight over Obamacare reignited this week. Plus, “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker explains why Pennsylvania is so critical in the battle for the White House and Senate.

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The Obamacare wars are back on the campaign trail

By Sahil Kapoor

Obamacare has reentered the conversation.

Nearly 15 years after then-President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, the political battle over health care overhaul is reigniting in the final stretch of the 2024 presidential race.

Vice President Kamala Harris has begun to take this issue seriously. this week features multiple ads vowing to protect the law, weaponizing former President Donald Trump’s ongoing calls to replace the ACA, arguing that it would tear up subsidies to ensure coverage and repeal insurance rules protecting pre-existing conditions.

Trump won the 2016 election while campaigning on repealing Obamacare, long used as a punching bag on the right, but the law gained popularity after he tried to repeal it. Despite this, he continued to criticize the law and said he still wanted to change it, but only if he came up with a better program. He said in a September 10 debate with Harris that he “plan concepts,” but his campaign is not saying when it will announce the proposal.

harris’ final announcement It describes how a farmer with a brain tumor credits Obamacare for saving his life and his farm. “Trump is coming for our healthcare. It’s pretty scary,” the woman tells the camera.

Also this week, Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Evans, raised eyebrows rewriting history From Trump’s attempts to repeal Obamacare when he was president.

“Donald Trump could destroy the program. Instead, he worked bipartisanly to ensure Americans have access to affordable care,” Vance said at Tuesday’s VP debate.

Vance was wrong. As president, Trump fought to destroy the ACA through executive actions to weaken insurance regulations and by asking the Supreme Court to repeal the law entirely in 2020 (failing) to repeal legislation that would have resulted in millions losing coverage.

Obamacare survived despite Trump’s efforts. Now Harris wants to capitalize on the issue, as Democrats could in the 2018 and 2020 elections.

There are many Republicans on Capitol Hill tried to turn the pageObamacare sees the fight as a losing cause. But others are willing to reopen it next year if they win the election.

That includes Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who is running to become the new No. 3 Senate GOP leader. Cotton This was reported by NBC News he has said he supports including a health care overhaul in major tax legislation Congress is preparing to consider next year, with most of Trump’s tax cuts set to expire at the end of 2025.

Also expiring at the end of 2025: enhanced subsidies for Obamacare that cap premiums at 8.5% of income for many Americans, costing about $25 billion a year.

Extending these subsidies is a priority for Harris and Democrats. The winners of the 2024 election will decide whether that happens.

Strategy change: In addition to new health-focused ads, Monica Alba, Jonathan Allen, Peter Nicholas and Yamiche Alcindor report Harris’s campaign plans to attack Trump more aggressively in the remaining weeks of the race as part of an effort to woo the few remaining undecided voters, according to five Harris campaign officials.

Meanwhile, some Democratic strategists and activists worry that Harris has failed to capitalize on the excitement surrounding his first entry into the race, largely avoiding town hall-style events with voters and media interviews. Peter Nicholas, Natasha Korecki, Monica Alba and Matt Dixon report.

How the Keystone State remains key to 2024

By Kristen Welker

With Election Day a month away, no state is more important than Pennsylvania — right now.

This is the key to both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump 270 electoral votesand public inquiries It shows that the race in Pennsylvania is incredibly close.

Trump is actually ready for it campaign Saturday in Butler, Pa.the site of an attempt on his life about three months ago. Meanwhile, Barack Obama will make his first campaign appearance this fall next week in Pittsburgh At an event for Harris.

Plus, the Keystone State is home to an important Senate race between Democratic candidate Bob Casey and GOP challenger Dave McCormick. two first discussed on Thursday nightCasey criticized McCormick’s former residency in Connecticut, and McCormick hit Casey for standing behind President Joe Biden before dropping out of the 2024 race.

For his part, Biden is scheduled to travel to Philadelphia next Tuesday for a Casey campaign event.

Pennsylvania has five competitive House races that could determine which party controls the chamber next year.

A month later, it is possible that another state will prevail in political discussions on Election Night. It was Wisconsin, after all tipping point condition The presidential candidate who won in 2016 and 2020 exceeded the limit of the Electoral College.

But for 2024, my money is on Pennsylvania to watch on Nov. 5 — and possibly beyond.

That’s all for the Policy Desk for now. If you have feedback – like it or not – email us politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

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