Amy Walter, The Cook Political Report:
Well, this is the real challenge that Republicans have right now.
They have the internal challenges, keeping the party together, not just in the Senate and getting a bill through the Senate. But, remember, it then has to come back to the House for final passage if there are changes, which it sounds very much like we will see changes on the Senate side, so keeping that internal coalition together.
But then they have to message to an external audience, to, of course, voters about what’s in this bill. Democrats pretty much have one message, and it is this is going to cut Medicaid and health care for millions of people who need it. What Republicans are saying is, no, it won’t, it’s going to make sure — we make sure to take care of those who are the neediest; the only people who will lose Medicaid are people who are either on it fraudulently, they’re here illegally and getting these benefits or they haven’t worked enough and so that we’re requiring them a certain number of work hours in order to be able to get this.
Both sides are going to show you polling that says their message is really resonating with voters. As I said, we will see once voters get this message from both of them, but I think what Democrats have going for them is the fact that they just get to repeat this over and over again, while Republicans are trapped right now trying to appease their own members and then at the same time trying to sell this message.
