Medicare, health care getting attention in Senate, congressional races

In Louisiana's Senate race, Medicare is grabbing the spotlight. The powerful issue is also popping up in North Carolina and Iowa. Meanwhile, Michigan's Senate race references to Medicare and the health law are checked for accuracy. And Obamacare is the subject of ads in an increasingly high-profile California House contest. 

The Associated Press: In Louisiana, Both Sides Claim Defense Of Medicare
An old political standby -; the future of Medicare -; is emerging as the go-to issue in Louisiana's bitter Senate race as the candidates woo seniors who typically wield strong influence in midterm elections. The challenge for voters is to figure out which side, if either, is telling the whole truth about who would cut and who would protect the popular insurance program. Medicare serves more than 50 million people and accounts for about 15 percent of federal spending, with about 10,000 new beneficiaries added daily as baby boomers reach age 65. The issue is so powerful that it's cropping up in North Carolina and Iowa, too, amid a national battle for control of the Senate (Barrow and Deslatte, 10/21).

Politico: Fact-Checking The Michigan Senate Race
The Michigan Senate race pits Democratic Rep. Gary Peters against Republican Terri Lynn Land, a former Michigan secretary of state, to replace the retiring Sen. Carl Levin. The two candidates have faced plenty of attacks from outside spending groups, who have poured enough money into the race to make it the seventh costliest in terms of outside dollars. In fact, those groups -; not the candidates themselves -; have so far been the focus of our fact-checking efforts. False and misleading claims have centered on taxes, equal pay for women, health care, outsourcing jobs, Medicare and energy (Factcheck.org, 10/21).

Sacramento Bee: Ad Watch: Democrats Use Obamacare Against Ose
House Majority PAC, a Democratic group, has criticized Republican congressional challenger Doug Ose for his stances on veterans and Social Security. Now, in a new television ad, the group is targeting the former congressman for his pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a new plan (Cadelago, 10/20).