"Healthy Wisconsin" not so healthy, election-wise?

State Democrats are "backing away" from their so-called “Healthy Wisconsin” plan:

When Senate Democrats unsuccessfully pushed a plan to give health coverage to every person in the state last year, they all voted for it together.

But though health-care reform remains a top issue for Democrats on the campaign trail, incumbent and first-time candidates are no longer united in embracing the $15 billion plan, and some are backing away from it.

…"I don't think they're backing away from it," said Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, who has derided the plan as government-run health care. "They're running away at this point. We have our challenger candidates talking about the issue."

But, gee, I’ve been watching the Democratic National Convention, and the economy just stinks. People are hurting. They need the government’s help.

Why, in today’s environment, would Democrats be backing – or running – away from the biggest thing on their agenda?