Keller @ Large: Ebola Threat Becoming Key Issue On Campaign Trail

BOSTON (CBS) – The government’s response to the Ebola outbreak has become a political issue. In politics, they often talk about an October surprise, a late-breaking news event that ends up having an unexpected impact on the campaign. And with the election just three weeks away, the Ebola threat and the government’s handling of it have jumped to the front of the national and local debate. “The first thing to do is contain and isolate,” said Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy. “I’m praying the CDC is a lot more competent than the VA, the IRS and some of the other federal agencies,” Republican congressional candidate Richard Tisei said. Kennedy and Tisei are two voices in a national chorus echoing new polling that shows nine in ten Americans want the president to impose stricter screening of travelers from Ebola-stricken nations. “Quarantining people before they come into the country, banning flights from those countries into the United States, I think all of those things make sense,” Tisei said. In a written statement to WBZ, Tisei’s Democratic opponent, Seth Moulton, said “we cannot simply isolate ourselves” and echoed the partisan attack of a web ad from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “So far I think people are approaching this with the appropriate care,” Martha Coakley, Democratic candidate for Mass. Governor said sidestepping the issue. But in last night’s Virginia Senate debate, there was partisan agreem...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Local News Politics Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Charlie Baker Ebola Jon Keller Keller @ Large Martha Coakly Richard Tisei Seth Moulton Source Type: news