Potential 2016 hopefuls are facing political peril as they grapple with the spread of Ebola in their backyards.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) encountered those exposed risks this weekend as he faced fierce criticism from a nurse who was quarantined in his state after treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), considered a possible Democratic contender or vice presidential pick, appeared with Christie on Friday to emphasize the risks of the virus. After facing criticism, on Sunday night he walked back a stringent Ebola quarantine protocol and said medical workers with no contact to Ebola patients could self-quarantine at home.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry was initially derided for traveling abroad while the first diagnosis was made in Texas, though he eventually cut his trip short to address the situation.
More broadly, Democrats have used the Christie and Perry incidents to argue Republicans are going too far on Ebola, saying that their calls for travel bans amount to fearmongering intended to turn a health crisis into a political advantage in the midterms and beyond.
"To the extent that this is going to be an issue for the 2016 field, when folks are running around scaring people, being hyperbolic, for what they perceive as their own short-term political gain, that leaves a bad taste in voters' mouths," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Michael Czin. more
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