Enroll America, the non-profit leading the effort to enroll Americans in ObamaCare health exchanges, isfocusing its resources on 10 states, nine of which have Republican Governors. The only state with a Democrat Governor is Illinois, Obama's home state. All ten states, moreover, are top Democrat targets in 2014. The political landscape of the states targeted may be coincidental, but it is certainly striking.
The states targeted are: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Eight of these states have gubernatorial elections next year. With the exception of Texas, all of these races are expected to be competitive. Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Texas also have potentially competitive Senate races. The Senate race in North Carolina could determine which party controls the Senate. While Texas is currently a solidly Republican state, it is the target of a broad coalition of progressive groups to turn it "blue" over the coming years.
The President of Enroll America, Anne Filipic, a veteran of Obama's political campaigns, tried to downplay any political motivations behind the targeting. “This is not a conversation about politics. This is a conversation about what does this mean to you, to your family, to your pocketbook. And there’s such power in that.”
Enroll has already signed-up 3,000 volunteers in the 10 states. It plans to spend tens of millions of dollars in these states through 2014, promoting the benefits of ObamaCare and encouraging people to sign-up for coverage. It is also planning in September to send thousands of volunteers and activists door-to-door in the 10 states, learning about individuals current situation and explaining how ObamaCare can help them.
In other words, a massive voter contact program in 10 battleground states.
Earlier this year, an draft application for ObamaCare health coverage sparked controversyby including information about registering to vote. After an outcry from Congress, that information was removed. Such information, however, can surely be recorded by Enroll volunteers.
On Sunday, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) said that Democrats would run on ObamaCare in 2014. It may not be in their ads or direct mail, but it will certainly be in their voter files and turnout efforts.
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