GUBERNATORIAL RACE: Will Health Care Be An Issue?

      The San Diego Daily Transcript reports that health care has gotten little play in the gubernatorial race so far, with neither candidate mentioning the topic lately. While a Field Institute poll earlier this week showed that health care was a key topic for voters, neither leading gubernatorial candidates' advertisements or debates have brought up the issue. Lt. Gov. Gray Davis (D) told the California Medical Association in February "he would support many HMO reforms proposed by state lawmakers, but has said little on it since." And state Attorney General Dan Lungren (R) "has remained largely silent on the issue." The Daily Transcript reports that health care and managed care "is likely to become a more pressing issue in the coming months" as groups lobby for changes at both the state and national levels (Gallagher, 9/15).