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Republican Party Targeting Local Reps

The health care debate is putting Central Florida's two freshmen members of Congress in the hot seat. Republicans are targeting representatives Alan Grayson and Suzanne Kosmas.

It's not campaign season, but the ads are running. In one, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas' face actually morphs into Nancy Pelosi's.

"She's very unpopular around the country," said Paul Lindsay, National Republican Congressional Committee.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is behind the ad. One potential problem with the ad, will Kosmas support Nancy Pelosi's government run health care?

The answer is still not clear.

"Because we don't have a bill, it would be impossible for me to predict," Congresswoman Kosmas said.

Kosmas will be vulnerable in the 2010 election because her district was specifically drawn for a Republican to win.

Congressman Alan Grayson is another target of Republicans, but he has a different approach.

"If you get sick America, the Republican health care plan is this: die quickly," Congressman Grayson said recently in the House of Representatives.

"Do you regret saying it?" Eyewitness News reporter Vanessa Welch asked Grayson.

"No, of course not. I was telling the truth and somebody needed to say that," Grayson said.

Republicans said they have a secret weapon they'll use against both lawmakers: senior-citizens who dominated crowds at town halls.

"There is a lot of energy against what Democrats are doing in Congress," Lindsay said.

Florida has the top seven senior-dominated house districts in the country, including those of Grayson and Kosmas.

What about the political consequences?

" We're talking about life and death. What's more important, life and death or my job?" Grayson questioned.

Republicans Dan Fanelli, Jerry Pierce, Patricia Sullivan and Armando Gutierrez recently announced plans to run against Grayson. Gutierrez says he'll use $100,000 dollars of his own money to challenge the outspoken congressman.

Pew research polls shows voters 65 and older are skewing more Republican and less than 20 percent believe health care reform will help them.

Grayson's having another town hall meeting at 7pm Monday at the Tavares Civic Center in Lake County. This time, 200 citizens will be allowed in and reservations will be taken by phone on a first come, first serve basis.

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