In sharp contrast to GOP, Dems to highlight health care

News outlets are looking ahead to the Democratic convention, which begins Tuesday in North Carolina, and how the parties are prepping for post-convention politicking around health care.

Politico: Dems Say They'll Talk Health Care In Charlotte
President Barack Obama's health care reform law will take center stage at the Democratic National Convention next week, David Axelrod, Obama's top campaign adviser, told reporters Friday. Well, the popular parts at least. "We've made a difference for tens and tens of millions of Americans in the health care system," Axelrod said ... Republicans have been expressing optimism that they have the momentum on Medicare, despite earlier fears that Republican nominee Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as running mate would turn off seniors fearful of his plans to transform the program (Cheney 8/31).

Denver Post: Democrats To Draw Clear Contrasts, Push Obama's Plan For Middle Class
The Democrats' convention next week will bring the choice between President Barack Obama and his Republican opponent into "sharp focus," with a particular emphasis on the president's plan to rebuild the economy from the middle class out, his deputy campaign manager said Friday ... The convention also will focus on Obama's signature health care legislation, the ending of the war in Iraq, the killing of Osama bin Laden, the auto industry bailout and other key milestones of the president's first term (Burnett, 9/1).

National Journal: Some of the Things Democrats Will be Answering Next Week
"OBAMACARE." Romney tackled Obama's signature health reform law, vowing to reduce health care costs by repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. ... MEDICARE, MEDICARE, MEDICARE. Ryan brought his favorite Medicare talking point, accusing Obama of "sacrificing" the Medicare guarantee to seniors by cutting the program by $716 billion -; mostly by slowing the rate of payment to hospitals and cutting rates to insurance companies -; to pay for his health reform law (McCarthy, O'Donnell and Sorcher, 9/1). 

The Hill: Obama: GOP voters 'often agree with me'
President Obama said he thinks many Republican voters agree with his policies, despite strong opposition from Republican lawmakers in Washington, and predicted that after November he would be better able to work with GOP leaders. ...Obama tied his healthcare reform law to the GOP presidential nominee, saying it "was designed originally by the now Republican standard-bearer and is working pretty well in Massachusetts" (Cohn, 9/1).

MSNBC: Romney's Health Plan, War Kept Out OF RNC Spotlight
[T]he convention all but glossed over "Romneycare," the markedly similar Massachusetts law that Obama has often cited as a model for his own health care law. ... conventions are carefully scripted affairs that often help decipher what message a party will carry into the fall campaign. The Romney campaign made clear this week that the economy, jobs and Medicare will be at the core of this November's election. But maybe not health care (O'Brien, 8/31).