No harm to GOP in insurance fight

Even as a fierce battle brews in Congress over Republican opposition to a $35 billion expansion of children's health insurance, California's heavily gerrymandered election districts mean Southland GOP lawmakers face little political risk over their stance. Lisa Friedman in the Daily News.

Every Southern California Republican voted against the bill last month, which would add as many as 3.1 million more children to health-insurance rolls nationwide, including about 203,320 in the Golden State.

And furious Democrats, preparing for a Thursday vote to override President George W. Bush's rejection of the measure, are mounting a campaign against GOP lawmakers who oppose the plan.

But Southland Republicans have little to fear from the attack ads and phone campaigns, California political analysts said.