Americans for Prosperity released a new television Wednesday calling on New Hampshire voters to tell Sen. Jeanne Shaheen that Obamacare is not working for the state.
“New Hampshire is famous for scenic drives, but they are tough to enjoy when you are on your way to the doctor,” the narrator says in the 30-second ad, which highlights a Forbes.com report that claims health care premiums have gone up 90 percent in New Hampshire. “Because Obamacare limits your choices, some people have to drive more than an hour to see a doctor.”
“What is health insurance worth if care isn’t there when you need it?” the narrator says. “Jeanne Shaheen voted for Obamacare, putting your doctors and hospitals further out of reach.”
WMUR in New Hampshire debunked the claim that premiums have gone up 90 percent is false, saying the Forbes.com report that is cited in the ad is based on one anonymous person’s opinion and was never based on actual insurance data in the state.
Mrs. Shaheen, the state’s former Democratic governor, is running for a second term in the U.S. Senate and could face off in the November election against former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, the Republican who recently jumped into the GOP primary race, which also features former New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith.
The University of New Hampshire released a survey this month that showed that Mrs. Shaheen held a 45 percent to 39 percent lead over Mr. Brown among likely voters. The same survey found that Mrs. Shaheen’s net favorability rating had slipped slightly since January, with 49 percent saying they have a favorable opinion of her compared to 35 percent who do not.
UNH also rolled out another survey this month that showed half of New Hampshire residents disapprove of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature legislative achievement.
The poll found that 37 percent of New Hampshire adults favor it, while 51 percent oppose and 12 percent are neutral or don’t know enough about it to say.
The survey showed that 70 percent of Democrats favored the law, compared to 26 percent of independents and 7 percent of Republicans.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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