Palin takes credit for toppling pro-healthcare reform Democrats

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin this week took credit for toppling more than a dozen House Democrats who voted in favor of their party’s signature healthcare law. 

Palin, who was the GOP’s vice-presidential candidate in 2008, launched a campaign last month targeting 20 Democrats who voted for the new law but represent districts that favored the GOP presidential ticket in 2008. The campaign — dubbed “Take Back the 20” — was funded by her political action committee (SarahPAC).

Via Twitter, Palin on Thursday claimed the effort a success. 

“Remember months ago ‘bullseye’ icon used 2 target the 20 Obamacare-lovin’ incumbent seats?,” she wrote. “We won 18 out of 20 (90% success rate; T’aint bad).”

Palin targeted districts currently represented by Reps. Vic Snyder (Ark.), Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.), Harry Mitchell (Ariz.), Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.), John Salazar (Col.), Betsy Markey (Col.), Allen Boyd (Fla.), Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.), Earl Pomeroy (N.D.), Brad Ellsworth (Ind.), Baron Hill (Ind.), Charlie Wilson (Ohio), John Boccieri (Ohio), Chris Carney (Pa.), Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.), John Spratt (S.C.), Bart Gordon (Tenn.), Tom Perriello (Va.), Alan Mollohan (W.Va.) and Nick Rahall (W.Va.).  

Sixteen of those 20 were on the ticket seeking reelection Tuesday. Only Rahall and Giffords were victorious.

Still, there’s some evidence that Tuesday’s elections were no referendum on healthcare reform. Democrats who voted against the bill, for instance, were hardly immune to the GOP wave that swept the Republicans back into the House majority. 

Of the 34 Democrats who bucked their party to oppose the healthcare bill, 30 ran for reelection this year. Of those 30, at least 17 were defeated at the polls Tuesday, including heavyweights like Reps. Rick Boucher (Va.), Ike Skelton (Mo.), Gene Taylor (Miss.) and Chet Edwards (Texas).

One of those Democrats — Ohio’s Ben Chandler — is in a race that’s still too close to call.