Wulsin in DC

Just because we posted too quickly and neglected to mention... We though you ought to know how Democrat Victoria Wulsin's comments below came to be made.

Wulsin, who is running to unseat Rep. Jean Schmidt in the 2nd Congressional District, is in Washington today. She flew in Sunday night, spent all day yesterday meeting with supporters: Humane Society of the United States, National Association of Social Workers, National Committee to Save Social Security, SEIU and two big donors.

She then watched the State of the Union with her son, who is a recent college graduate now working for Cincinnati native John Bridgeland's Republican-leaning firm, Civic Enterprises. Bridgeland, if you recall, used to work for former Rep. Rob Portman and at the White House.

It's all kind of a big small world, if you get what we mean.

Today, Wulsin met for about an hour with about eight reporters - including the Cincinnati Enquirer's Washington Bureau - at the American Federation of Teachers, which has endorsed her. Thanks to that endorsement, they let her host her media roundtable in one of their conference rooms.

Discussion ranged from the recently proposed economic stimulus package (she supports it but thinks it ought to do more for seniors) to the SOTU (she didn't like much of it), abortion (she supports choice) and even gay marriage (she supports equal rights).

One interesting exchange that came up, other than the Schmidt criticisms below, was that Wulsin pledge in a recent TV ad not to accept congressional health care coverage is pretty much just for show.

Wulsin explained to reporters that she is covered by a PPO through her husband's job. They "pay a small amount" but the majority of their "gold plated plan" is paid for by the University of Cincinnati.

Asked if she would consider paying the federal government back for BOTH her congressional health care coverage AND her UC coverage, since, you know, UC is a public university, Wulsin said: "Possibly. I don't know. I don't know."

Then, asked if she would give up ALL health insurance, so she really would know what many of the 2nd District residents feel like, the Indian Hill doctor said: "That's interesting. I might have to consider that. ... What an interesting idea. On the other hand, I want to stay healthy."

After her media roundtable, Wulsin planned to meet with several medical organizations and so some women's groups, such as EMILY's List, a group that supports pro-choice Democratic women running for higher office. Wulsin said although she's expecting (hoping for) an endorsement from EMILY's List.