Ed Martin Opposes 'Obamacare' on Wheels

Chalk this up as one of the more unusual transportation vehicles utilized during the 2012 election season: St. Louis City attorney Ed Martin’s campaign for attorney general is using a retrofitted ambulance aimed at showcasing the Republican’s opposition to President Barack Obama’s health care plan.

Martin’s campaign announced last week that the “Ed Martin for Attorney General Campaign ‘Stop Obamacare’ Ambulance” would be traveling around the state to collect signatures against the health care law passed in 2010. 

“We are inviting citizens from across the state to come out to the ‘Stop Obamacare’ Ambulance Tour and sign the petition to stop the implementation of Obamacare here in Missouri,” Martin said in a statement. “The petition is meant to protect the rights of Missourians, something that Obama's Lawyer, Chris Koster, seems to have no interest in doing.”

Not everybody reacted to the ambulance favorably. Jane Dueker, a Stinson Morrison Hecker attorney who previously worked for former Gov. Bob Holden, said on Twitter, “in my opinion, ‘gimmick’ is polite. Crazy Eddie has now down shifted into [embarrassment].”

Koster, the Democratic incumbent, filed a brief last year arguing that the individual mandate portion of the health care law was unconstitutional. But the brief also stated that the rest of the law didn’t have to be voided. Martin’s campaign has argued that the document was inadequate.

In any case, Martin still needs to get past Livingston County Prosecutor Adam Warren in the Republican primary to face off against Koster. And Koster has an enormous financial advantage over both candidates.