Will distinctions between GOP candidates' plans for the ACA matter in a crowded field?

Republican presidential candidates have each committed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. However, the differences in their plans may not influence the outcomes of the primary elections, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Although Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.), Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) have publicized plans to replace the ACA, their proposals lack sufficient details to gauge any potential impact, according to the report.

Regardless, with all of the Republican candidates feeling pressure to establish his or her anti-ACA positions, distinguishing between them could be a challenge for voters. While some will only push forward plans to repeal the law, others will broadly outline the direction they'd aim to take their own healthcare reform.

For instance, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) has taken a unique stance — one that is anti-ACA but supports Medicaid expansion for pragmatic and moral reasons, according to the report.

While President Obama's signature law is a divisive and contentious factor for many voters, polling indicates it is merely one of many issues Republican voters are concerned about. Kaiser Family Foundation's tracking poll found 69 percent of Republican registered voters said they would consider a candidate's views on the ACA as one of several factors determining their vote, while 12 percent said they would "only vote for a candidate who shares their views on the ACA," according to WSJ. Eighteen percent of Republicans said the ACA would not be a factor in their vote.

Republicans are also relatively divided on next steps they would like Congress to take on the ACA. Kaiser's poll found 59 percent of GOP registered voters favor repeal. Among these, 29 percent support replacing the repealed ACA with an alternative plan, and 23 percent say the ACA should be repealed but not replaced, according to the report. Seventeen percent of voters said they'd like the ACA to be scaled back, while 8 percent want it expanded, and 8 percent support keeping it the way it is, according to WSJ.

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