Health care a key factor in some congressional races

USA Today: "In an election year dominated by health care, dozens of candidates for Congress have a catchy campaign slogan at their disposal: Send a doctor to the House. Forty-seven physicians — 41 Republicans and six Democrats — are running for the House or Senate this year, three times the number of doctors serving in Congress today, according to a USA TODAY review" (Fritze, 4/19).

The Washington Post: "Now, some of Obama's supporters are mounting a defiant strike against the president's party. The nascent third party, North Carolina First, could endanger the Democratic congressional majority by siphoning votes from incumbent Democrats in November's midterm election, potentially enabling Republican challengers to pick up the seats." This third party arose from liberals frustrations at three North Carolina congressmen - Reps. Larry Kissell, Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre - who voted against the health overhaul (Rucker, 4/19).

Kaiser Health News tracked weekend coverage of how health reform rhetoric is heating up congressional and state campaigns.