The Associated Press FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2009, file photo, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., speaks at a health care news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Far from reversing course, Senate Democrats who backed President Barack Obamas health care law and now face re-election in GOP-leaning states are reinforcing their support for the overhaul even as Republicans intensify their criticism. Mark Begich of Alaska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Landrieu of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina will face voters in 2014 for the first time since voting for the Affordable Care Act _ commonly called Obamacare _ three years ago. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

By BILL BARROW/Associated Press/June 15, 2013

ATLANTA (AP) Far from reversing course, Senate Democrats who backed President Barack Obamas health care law and now face re-election in GOP-leaning states are firming up their support for the overhaul even as Republican criticism intensifies.

Mark Begich of Alaska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina will face voters in 2014 for the first time since voting for the Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare three years ago. They arent apologizing for their vote, and several are pursuing an aggressive strategy: Embrace the law, help voters use it and fix what doesnt work.

I dont run from my votes, Begich told The Associated Press. Politicians who sit around and say, Thats controversial so I better run from it, just ask for trouble. Voters may not always agree with you, but they respect people who think about these issues and talk about them.

That means, Begich said, reminding voters that as a candidate in 2008 he called for prohibiting insurers from denying coverage based on existing health problems, ending lifetime coverage limits and making it easier for workers to leave a job and still have insurance, an option they'll have under new exchanges that consumers can begin using to buy individual policies this fall.

Theres a lot of good that people will realize as this all comes online, the first-term senator said.

Republicans argue just the opposite that theres a lot of bad in the sweeping law. More than a year before the elections, they use the law to pummel the four Democrats, three of them from the conservative South and all from states that Republican Mitt Romney carried last fall.

Begich highlighted that Senate Democrats have voted to repeal parts of the law: paperwork for businesses and a tax on medical equipment. And he promised aggressive outreach to help constituents use the exchanges and other consumer benefits.

Landrieu has gone on the offensive, too, criticizing Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and her states Legislature for refusing federal money to broaden Medicaid insurance for more low-income Americans. Along with the exchanges, the optional Medicaid expansion anchors the laws insurance coverage extension.

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2014 Senate Democrats firm up health care support - Boston.com