In the midst of the presidential race, Joe Biden's campaign has launched a new ad highlighting President Trump's renewed effort to shelve the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare. The ad aims to emphasize Biden's commitment to lowering health care costs and the potential consequences for millions of Americans if the ACA is repealed.

The ACA has become a central flashpoint in the campaign, with Biden and his allies contrasting Trump's dismissive remarks about the law with Biden's focus on health care affordability. Biden applauded North Carolina's expansion of Medicaid under the ACA, which will extend immediate coverage to 300,000 residents, while condemning "MAGA Republicans" who seek to repeal the law. His campaign warned of the possibility that millions of Americans who rely on Obamacare could lose their coverage if Trump wins a second term.

Trump has consistently criticized the ACA, citing its increasing costs and inadequate coverage. His recent posts on social media platform Truth Social labeled the law as a "disaster" and claimed that he is exploring alternatives to it. However, Trump has not proposed a specific replacement for the ACA, an ongoing challenge for Republicans who have vowed to "repeal and replace" Obamacare.

The political landscape surrounding health care has significantly shifted in recent years. While the ACA was initially criticized by Republicans as a burdensome big-government program, the actual threat of its repeal in 2017 made the law more popular, resulting in the collapse of the repeal effort. Since then, Republicans have largely avoided discussing health care as a prominent issue.

Abortion rights have followed a similar trajectory. Republicans historically gained political advantage by opposing abortion rights, but after the Supreme Court overturned those rights in June 2022, the issue became a strength for Democrats, drawing support even from conservatives.

Biden and Democrats are now focusing on health care and abortion rights as powerful motivators in their favor, alongside other pressing issues like the economy and Trump's perceived threat to democracy. They aim to differentiate themselves from Republicans by championing these concerns as priorities for Americans.

The ACA expanded health coverage for millions of Americans by providing subsidies for private insurance through newly established marketplaces and offering additional funding to states to expand Medicaid eligibility. The law has faced continuous challenges in court, with Republicans campaigning for years to repeal it. However, disagreements within the GOP on the exact approach to repeal stalled the effort when Republicans held majorities in both chambers of Congress and the White House.

Biden's campaign has tied other Republican candidates to Trump's calls for repealing Obamacare, pointing to their past statements critical of the law. They specifically highlighted comments made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who have both called for the repeal of the ACA.

Public opinion on the ACA remains divided along party lines, but its popularity reached an all-time high in March of this year, with 62 percent of adults holding a favorable view, according to KFF, an independent health research and polling organization. A May poll conducted by KFF found that 59 percent of adults viewed the law favorably. The provision preventing insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on preexisting conditions has been particularly well-received.

Biden's campaign released a TV ad on health care, featuring a pediatric nurse from Nevada who praises Biden's efforts to lower health care costs and support families in her state. The ad is set to air in seven swing states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan, during popular programming such as "The Voice" and "Survivor."

As the election draws closer, the focus on health care and abortion rights intensifies, with both Biden and his allies seeking to solidify their stance on these issues and draw a clear distinction from their Republican counterparts.