WASHINGTON — Republicans angling for the party’s presidential nomination on Wednesday grappled with the reality that the Medicare program could start running out of money within the next president’s eight-year term.
Republican presidential candidates met for their third showdown Wednesday night, sparring over everything from foreign policy to TikTok. On health care, they touched on entitlement spending, abortion after losses in this week’s election on the issue, and addressing the opioid crisis. Just five candidates took the stage after some dropped out and campaign requirements winnowed down the field.
Some candidates, including Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refused to commit to changing the eligibility age for Medicare, instead citing difficulties for people who make their living through manual labor and calling for improving other economic metrics and reining in government spending generally.
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