How did Uber become a campaign issue?

[Commentary] If you are running for president, chances are you are going to talk about Uber, whether your spin is boosting entrepreneurship, heralding the creative use of technology or cautioning against the erosion of labor protections.

GOP candidates are evoking these sharing-economy companies to show that they are modern, pro-tech, pro-innovation. But beware the trendy campaign stunt. Holding up Uber as a model of American ingenuity is risky when the company is facing legal challenges over how it treats workers. Likewise, knocking the sharing economy can make a candidate look out of step with the modern world. "It's the first election that this is a real part of people's daily life and an important part of our economy," said Michael Beckerman, chief executive and president of the Internet Association, which counts Uber, Lyft and Airbnb, the room-listing site, as members. "It's going to create an interesting voting block of people who understand the opportunities."