House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) sunnily cast aside concerns that the Affordable Care Act would be a liability for Democratic candidates in this year's midterm elections, saying Thursday that the law would instead help her party.
"I believe that it's a winner," Pelosi said at a news conference, arguing that Democrats will run on the law in their campaigns.
The top Democrat in the House criticized Republicans for repeatedly attempting to repeal the law.
"Fifty-one times the Republicans have voted to repeal this freedom and opportunity for the American people," Pelosi said. "These ceaseless Republican votes are not only a waste of time, they have a real and heavy opportunity cost, time wasted on partisan antics that should have been spent instead of the top -- our top priority, and a top priority of the American people, creating jobs."
When a reporter asked why congressional candidates in competitive races seem to be either touting their attempts to fix the law or avoiding discussing it altogether, Pelosi shot back.
"You have to ask them -- the member, but I believe that it's a winner," she said.
Pelosi has been a cheerleader for the law even when initial glitches with healthcare.gov arose.
Spending by Democrats in support of the party's candidates has so far been dwarfed by spending by conservative groups attacking Democrats over the Affordable Care Act this cycle in battleground states.
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