Published on October 21, 2009 at 2:14 AM
With the 2010 midterm election season fast approaching, Democrats are using the health care reform debate to instill unity in their caucus — especially with freshmen lawmakers.
Roll Call reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is using her leverage as a party leader to rally health reform support from House freshmen. After a meeting last week, Pelosi "turned the conversation to a politically vulnerable Democratic freshman. She noted that the lawmaker had recently received a big legislative assist from leaders but declined to show up for a press conference promoting their health care reform push."
"Some people in in the room said Pelosi's implication was clear: Marginal Democrats need to be team players in the party's make-or-break drive to restructure the health care system — or stop expecting the legislative favors that they covet to establish track records for re-election" (Dennis and Newmyer, 10/20).
In the meantime, Democrats are putting a lot of money into their 2010 races, even as many of them don't yet have GOP challengers,
The Hill reports (Wilson, 10/20).