After some close races in Iowa, presidential candidates have moved on to New Hampshire, a sharply divided state with few supporters of the Affordable Care Act and a growing concern about prescription drug overuse.
The state holds its primary Tuesday night.
University of New Hampshire political scientist Andy Smith said healthcare has been way down on the list of concerns for the state's voters.
Republican candidates are competing to see who can bash the ACA the most. Polls show Donald Trump leading in New Hampshire. Iowa's GOP winner, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who finished a strong third, have echoed Trump's desire to repeal and replace the ACA but have offered few alternatives.
Democratic hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed a Medicare-for-all plan that is projected to cost far more than the campaign says it will. Iowa Democratic winner Hillary Clinton says that plan wouldn't stand a chance in Congress and instead suggests building on the ACA's successes.
After being confronted with the issue of opioid abuse at several events, most of the candidates have shared personal stories about addiction and drug abuse in their families and said the issue must be addressed.
Clinton presented a $10 billion plan to give grants to states with programs for combating addiction. She also supports medication-assisted treatment and said first responders should all carry naloxone, which is a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose.
Republican candidates have also said treatment should be more available but emphasized closing the borders to prevent these types of drugs from getting into the country illegally.
