News outlets discuss how U.S. political parties are using the Ebola epidemic in their mid-term election campaign strategies.

The Hill: GOP amplifies calls for Ebola czar
“A growing number of Republicans are accusing President Obama of leadership failures on Ebola and urging him to hand over the government response to a single point person outside his administration. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) became the latest — and highest-ranking — Republican to call for an Ebola ‘czar’ on Sunday…” (Ferris, 10/13).

The Hill: Dem lawmaker: No need for Ebola ‘czar’
“Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) is pushing back against calls for President Obama to appoint an Ebola ‘czar’ to coordinate the fight against the deadly virus. In an interview on MSNBC, Casey said the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) already had an official tasked with managing the response to such public health emergencies, citing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, which Congress reauthorized last year…” (Byrnes, 10/13).

New York Times: Debate Over Ebola Turns to Specific Policy Requests
“The public health concerns about Ebola have now spread to both political parties, which are engaged in a finger-pointing policy debate that could jar midterm elections just weeks away…” (Weisman, 10/13).

Wall Street Journal: Ebola Health Crisis Becomes Political Campaign Fodder
“…Republicans are accusing President Barack Obama of not doing enough to protect Americans from Ebola, part of a broader strategy to frame the election as a referendum on his leadership. … Democrats, meanwhile, are linking Republican-backed budget cuts to the spread of the disease, to help argue that dire consequences result when the GOP is in charge…” (Reinhard/Armour, 10/13).