In N.Y. special election, Medicare politics playing major role

A GOP candidate's once comfortable lead has narrowed amid voter backlash to the Republican Medicare plan.

The New York Times: As House Race Narrows, Interest Nationally Widens
National Republicans and their allies in business are making a furious last-minute push to save a once reliably Republican House seat in western New York, as their candidate's comfortable lead vanished amid voter backlash to a Republican plan to overhaul Medicare (Hernandez, 5/22).

Los Angeles Times: GOP Medicare Plan Gets Tough Test In House Race In New York
Kathy Hochul, the Democrat within reach of a stunner in the special U.S. House election here Tuesday, is not yet two minutes into her pitch at a candidates' forum when she brings up her opposition to Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan's plan to overhaul Medicare. Hochul, the Erie County clerk, mentions Ryan again a minute later and then two minutes later. At nine minutes, a reporter asks about Medicare, and the 52-year-old attorney offers a broad smile. "I'm glad you asked that question," she said (Hennessey, 5/22).

The Wall Street Journal: Poll Favors Democrat In Special Election
A Democratic congressional candidate has built a slight lead in a traditionally Republican district, according to a new poll on a special election Tuesday eyed by some in both parties as a referendum on the House GOP plan to overhaul Medicare (Hughes, 5/23).