When Mitt Romney selected Paul Ryan as his Veep nominee, and initially seized the offensive on Medicare by charging “Obamacare” was funded by actually siphoning-off Medicare dollars, too many GOP consultants rejoiced prematurely.
One NRCC operative was quoted as predicting the Democrats would retreat on Medicare, and that the GOP had turned a corner on the always controversial and dangerous issue. As Charlie Black noted, if we could ‘break-even’ on Medicare, we’d be doing quite well.
But that was then. Now? GOP candidates are well advised to fight back on the issue, but not lead with it.
That was always the best approach, and the initial glow of the first Ryan offensive has clearly worn off.