1 1 <p><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/126338/Obama-Retains-Trust-Congress-Healthcare.aspx">A new Gallup survey reveals</a> that "Americans remain more confident in the healthcare reform recommendations of President Obama (49%) than in the recommendations of the Democratic (37%) or Republican (32%) leaders in Congress. But these confidence levels are lower than those measured in June, suggesting that the ongoing healthcare reform debate has taken a toll on the credibility of the politicians involved."</p> 2010-03-07T10:02:43-05:00 1409 false true 2010-03-09T09:07:50-05:00 2010-03-09T09:07:50-05:00 1 1 <p>According to a new <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/126191/Americans-Tilt-Against-Democrats-Plans-Summit-Fails.aspx">Gallup survey</a>, "Americans are skeptical that lawmakers will agree on a new healthcare bill at Thursday's bipartisan healthcare summit in Washington, D.C. If an agreement is not reached, Americans by a 49% to 42% margin oppose rather than favor Congress passing a healthcare bill similar to the one proposed by President Obama and Democrats in the House and Senate. By a larger 52% to 39% margin, Americans also oppose the Democrats in the Senate using a reconciliation procedure to avoid a possible Republican filibuster and pass a bill by a simple majority vote."</p> 2010-02-25T09:22:37-05:00 1394 false true 2010-02-25T09:22:37-05:00 2010-02-25T09:22:37-05:00 1 1 <p>The public often forms opinion based on the overall contours of an issue--rather than inside-the beltway details--an observation that seems particularly true of its reaction to health care reform. A <a href="http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1478/political-iq-quiz-knowledge-filibuster-debt-colbert-steele">Pew Research poll</a> reveals that just 32% of Americans know the health care reform bill received no support from Republican Senators; just 26% know that 60 votes are needed to break a filibuster in the Senate. And, as other polls have confirmed, even fewer understand the basic provisions of a bill that is both cumbersome and has remained mostly unexplained to the American public.</p> 2010-01-31T10:37:33-05:00 1357 false true 2010-02-05T13:47:36-05:00 2010-02-05T13:47:36-05:00 1 1 <p>Was the Obama administration's emphasis on health care over jobs "a colossal miscalculation" of public sentiment and needs. Charlie Cook, in this interesting and compelling analysis, tied the drop in support for the administration to its year-long health care campaign, undertaken during a period when jobs were withering away and the unemployment rates was rising to crisis proportions: "Honorable and intelligent people can disagree over the substance and details of what President Obama and congressional Democrats are trying to do on health care reform and climate change. But nearly a year after Obama's inauguration, judging by where the Democrats stand today, it's clear that they have made a colossal miscalculation. The latest unemployment and housing numbers underscore the folly of their decision to pay so much attention to health care and climate change instead of focusing on the economy "like a laser beam," as President Clinton pledged to do during his 1992 campaign. Although no one can fairly accuse Obama and his party's leaders of ignoring the economy, they certainly haven't focused on it like a laser beam." <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cr_20100116_6798.php">For the entire analysis, click here. </a></p> 2010-01-17T10:26:24-05:00 1311 false true 2010-01-21T09:09:40-05:00 2010-01-21T09:09:40-05:00 1 1 <p>A new <a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/19/2178310.aspx">NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll</a> confirms what last night's returns from Massachusetts infer: health care reform is not popular. In the survey, only 33% of Americans say President Obama's reform effort is a good idea; 46% consider it a mistake.</p> 2010-01-19T14:22:08-05:00 1322 false true 2010-01-20T09:18:21-05:00 2010-01-20T09:18:21-05:00 1 1 <p>So-called "Blue Dog" Democrats--moderate Democratic Senators and congressmen in marginally conservative or Republican districts or states--are suffering because of the unpopularity of the health care bill now working its way through congress. <a href="http://www.omaha.com/article/20100117/NEWS01/701179926">A prime example, Sen. Ben Nelson who has campaigned hard to sell Nebraskans on his vote to support the bill</a>: "Nelson, who once enjoyed some of the highest job performance marks in the U.S. Senate, has now seen his approval rating dip below 50 percent in Nebraska, according to The World-Herald Poll. Nelson said the poll results come as no surprise, especially since Nebraskans have been 'bombarded' with millions of dollars in 'misleading advertisements.' He said he expects that people will come to appreciate the health care bill. In the survey, Nelson's job approval rating was 42 percent and his disapproval rating was 48 percent. By comparison, Republican Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska, who voted against the bill, had a 63 percent job-approval rating."</p> <p> <script type="text/javascript"> &lt;!-- displayAd(33, false, false, false, false); --&gt; </script> </p> <h5><br /></h5> 2010-01-18T00:04:04-05:00 1315 false true 2010-01-19T10:11:30-05:00 2010-01-19T10:11:30-05:00 1 1 <p>According to a new NBC News/<em>Wall Street Journal</em>, just 32% of Americans favor of health care reform, with 47% opposed to the plan being debated in Congress. "For the first time in the survey, a plurality prefers the status quo to reform. By a 44-41 percent margin, respondents say it would be better to keep the current system than to pass Obama's health plan."</p> 2009-12-17T09:45:38-05:00 1268 false true 2009-12-18T09:12:17-05:00 2009-12-18T09:12:17-05:00 1 1 <p>Will the president's sagging approval numbers start moving up soon? <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2236708/">Jacob Weisberg, writing in <em>Slate</em>, suggests that the answer may be yes</a>: "About one thing, left and right seem to agree these days: Obama hasn't done anything yet. . . . <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/opinion/22dowd.html?_r=1%26em" target="_blank"><em></em></a><em></em>This conventional wisdom about Obama's first year isn't just premature&mdash;it's sure to be flipped on its head by the anniversary of his inauguration on Jan. 20. If, as seems increasingly likely, Obama wins passage of a health care reform a bill by that date, he will deliver his first State of the Union address having accomplished more than any other postwar American president at a comparable point in his presidency. This isn't an ideological point or one that depends on agreement with his policies. It's a neutral assessment of his emerging record&mdash;how many big, transformational things Obama is likely to have made happen in his first 12 months in office."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> 2009-11-30T12:55:34-05:00 1240 false true 2009-12-02T09:19:54-05:00 2009-12-02T09:19:54-05:00 1 1 <p>In another sign that the nation may be growing somewaht more conservative of the issue of abortion, <a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/17/rel17d.pdf">a new CNN/Opinion Research poll finds</a> that 61% of "adults oppose using public funds to pay for abortions for women who may be covered by a government health insurance system, and 51 percent say women covered by private insurance should not have coverage that pays for abortion . . . 56% favor creating a federally run health insurance program to compete with private insurance companies, and 66 percent said state governments should not be allowed to decide whether the federal insurance would apply everyone in the state."</p> 2009-11-18T16:14:02-05:00 1228 false true 2009-11-19T09:02:16-05:00 2009-11-19T09:02:16-05:00 1 1 <p>According to a new <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/17/AR2009111700021.html?hpid=topnews">Washington Post/ABC News poll</a>, Americans are evenly and "deeply" divided" on the heath care reform proposals before Congress: 48% support the proposed changes while 49% are opposed. One positive sign for supporters of the legislation: "The Democrats have made some progress among at least one key group. Support among senior citizens, while still broadly negative, is up 13 points since September to 44%. Seniors have also tilted back toward Obama when matched head to head with congressional Republicans on dealing with health-care reform, helping the president to a 13-point advantage over the GOP on this issue."</p> 2009-11-17T10:21:21-05:00 1223 false true 2009-11-18T09:06:17-05:00 2009-11-18T10:38:45-05:00 1 1 <p>According to Gallup, Americans are uncertain about the health care proposals winding their way through congress: "Americans are evenly split on the potential impact of new health care legislation, should it ultimately be passed into law. Forty-one percent say a new health care bill would make the U.S. health care system better in the long run, while 40% say it would make things worse . . . Americans are more negative about the impact of a new health care bill on their personal situations than they are about its impact on the nation as a whole. By a 10-point margin, Americans are more likely to say a new bill would make their personal health care situations worse (36%), rather than better (26%). Almost 4 out of 10 say a bill would make no difference, or have no opinion on the topic."</p> 2009-11-10T10:26:57-05:00 1212 false true 2009-11-13T09:12:33-05:00 2009-11-13T09:12:33-05:00 1 1 <p>One thing <em>PollTrack </em>will be monitoring very closely over the next few months is the relationship between the president's approval rating and the success or failure of the health care legislation currently working its way through congress. At the moment, high unemployment numbers and the looming deficit has taken their toll on independent voters--their loss from the Democratic fold representing the single most important factor in the party's losses in Virginia and New Jersey last week. Will the success of health care legislation--such as last Saturday's victory in the house--help to offset dissatisfaction among independent voters? The answer may well spell a continued Democratic majority next November or Republican gains. Stay tuned for analysis of this issue relative to the president's overall standing with voters.</p> 2009-11-08T11:17:51-05:00 1210 false true 2009-11-10T09:33:10-05:00 2009-11-10T09:33:10-05:00 1 1 <p>A new <a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/10/27/2109332.aspx?ocid=twitter">NBC/Wall Street Journal poll</a> reports that support for the so-called<em><strong> "public option"</strong></em>--a government-run insurance plan--at its highest level since the debate began with<em><strong> 48%</strong></em> in favor of the idea while 42% oppose it.</p> 2009-10-27T14:04:09-04:00 1152 false true 2009-10-28T08:54:40-04:00 2009-10-28T09:43:30-04:00 1 1 <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/19/AR2009101902451.html?hpid=topnews">According to a new <em>Washington Post</em>/ABC News poll</a>, "support for a government-run health-care plan to compete with private insurers has rebounded from its summertime lows and wins clear majority support from the public. . . On the issue that has been perhaps the most pronounced flash point in the national debate, 57 percent of all Americans now favor a public insurance option, while 40 percent oppose it. Support has risen since mid-August, when a bare majority, 52 percent, said they favored it. . . .If a public plan were run by the states and available only to those who lack affordable private options, support for it jumps to 76 percent. Under those circumstances, even a majority of Republicans, 56 percent, would be in favor of it, about double their level of support without such a limitation."</p> 2009-10-19T23:33:17-04:00 1137 false true 2009-10-20T09:57:26-04:00 2009-10-20T09:57:26-04:00 1 1 <div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform">While somewhat a odds with recent polling from other organizations, Rasmussen reports that "44% of voters nationwide now favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats</a>. That's little changed from a week ago.The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% are opposed to the plan. The numbers have been remarkably stable throughout the debate"Rasmussen continues: "</span>Last week, support for the plan rose to 46%, up five points from a week earlier. With the exception of &ldquo;bounces&rdquo; following a couple of nationally televised presidential appearances, it was the first time support for the congressional health care effort had risen."</div> <p>&nbsp;</p> 2009-10-13T13:29:00-04:00 1130 false true 2009-10-14T09:49:58-04:00 2009-10-14T09:49:58-04:00 1 1 <p><a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/october_2009/55_oppose_penalty_for_not_buying_health_insurance">According to a new Rasmussen survey</a>, a majority of US voters oppose the provision in health care legislation that would require young and healthy Americans to either buy health insurance or pay a $750 annual penalty for not having it. 55% of U.S. voters now oppose that proposal; just 32% of voters think young and healthy Americans should be forced to purchase health insurance or else pay a penalty.&nbsp;14% are not sure. Among voters ages 18 to 29, 29% favor the provision, known as &ldquo;the individual mandate,&rdquo; while 57% are opposed to it.</p> 2009-10-11T11:50:51-04:00 1127 false true 2009-10-12T09:49:43-04:00 2009-10-12T09:49:43-04:00 1 1 <p>Last weeks polling from Rasmussen Reports on the subject of health care reform suggests a mixed bag for proponents and opponents of the plan now before congress: "<span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes, as the old saying goes, the devil's in the details.Most U.S. voters (54%) believe that major changes are needed in the U.S. health care system. Sixty-one percent (61%) say it's important for Congress to pass health care legislation this year. The problem is that just 41% of voters nationwide now favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats." <a href="Sometimes, as the old saying goes, the devil's in the details.Most U.S. voters (54%) believe that major changes are needed in the U.S. health care system. Sixty-one percent (61%) say it's important for Congress to pass health care legislation this year. The problem is that just 41% of voters nationwide now favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats.">For more of Rasmussen's analysis, click here.&nbsp; </a><br /></span></p> 2009-10-04T10:54:20-04:00 1115 false true 2009-10-08T11:01:32-04:00 2009-10-08T11:01:32-04:00 1 1 <p><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/123149/Cost-Is-Foremost-Healthcare-Issue-for-Americans.aspx">Americans see affordability as the nation's biggest health care concern, according to a recent Gallup survey</a>: "In an open-ended question, Americans are most likely to say cost (38%) is the biggest problem with health care in the United States today, followed by too many uninsured (15%), and insurance companies (13%)." There is a major gap in the perception of this issue, however, depending on the respondent's own insurance status: "A question asking whether health care costs pose a major problem, a minor problem, or no problem personally for respondents provides another indication of the broad gap in concern about healthcare between the insured and the uninsured. Seventy-two percent of the uninsured say costs are a major problem. By contrast, 42% of adults with private insurance, and 40% of those with Medicare/Medicaid, say this."</p> 2009-09-27T10:30:10-04:00 1108 false true 2009-09-30T09:46:54-04:00 2009-09-30T09:46:54-04:00 1 1 <p><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/122969/Many-Americans-Doubt-Costs-Benefits-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=alert">To a considerable degree, Americans remain uncertain about the scope and cost of health care proposals now being considered by Congress, according to a new Gallup poll</a>: "Americans are skeptical that President Obama's health care plan will be able to accomplish all he intends -- to expand coverage to nearly all Americans without raising taxes on middle-class Americans or affecting the quality of care. 38% believe his plan will achieve all of these goals, while 60% do not think it will. Republicans are nearly united in thinking the plan will not accomplish these stated goals (90% believe it will not), and most independents (64%) agree. Two in three Democrats (66%), on the other hand, express optimism that the plan will achieve these aims . . . Less than a majority [of all polled, 43%] say they are confident that Obama's plan can be paid for mostly through cost savings in Medicare and other parts of the healthcare system, as Obama has proposed. 11% are very confident of this."</p> <p>Significantly, the survey concludes that "Although the public stops short of saying reform will make these things worse -- given that about one in five expect the reforms not to make a difference either way -- in three of the four areas, more predict health care legislation would make the situation worse rather than better. These are key considerations given that support for a healthcare plan -- <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/122957/Healthcare-Bill-Supporters-Cite-Uninsured-Foes-Big-Govt.aspx">currently 50%, including "soft" support</a> -- could drop considerably if Americans were convinced that reform would have a harmful effect on the middle class through higher taxes, higher costs for health care, or reduced coverage or quality of care."</p> 2009-09-17T09:26:04-04:00 1094 false true 2009-09-18T09:19:18-04:00 2009-09-18T09:19:18-04:00 1 1 <p>Analyzing a just released national poll from <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_091309.html?sid=ST2009091400007">ABC News/Washington Post</a>, <a href="http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/polltracker/2009/09/public-gives-democrats-points.html">CQ Politics spots an ominous sign</a> for the GOP: Americans perceive the party as obstructionist. CQ writes: "Republicans are viewed as obstructionists who are not making a good faith effort to cooperate with Democrats in the health care debate, according to [the survey]. The same poll found that half the respondents thought Democrats were making an honest effort to cooperate with Republicans on health care. Sixty-two percent of the respondents said the Republicans were not negotiating in good faith. But if there is any political blow back from this, it's hard to find. People were evenly divided on whether they would vote for (22 percent) or against (23 percent) a congressional candidate who supports the Democrats' health overhaul plan, with 54 percent saying it would make no difference to them. Forty-nine percent said they think the two parties are equally to blame for the tone of the debate."</p> 2009-09-14T13:02:33-04:00 1090 false true 2009-09-16T09:18:47-04:00 2009-09-16T09:18:47-04:00 1 1 <p><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/122822/Americans-Sharply-Divided-Healthcare-Reform.aspx">According to a new Gallup survey</a>, "the American people are no less divided on healthcare reform today than they were a month ago. [The survey] finds 39% of Americans saying they would direct their member of Congress to vote against a healthcare reform bill this fall while 37% want their member to vote in favor. . . .[The poll] suggests the issue could be politically potent in 2010. Sixty-four percent of Americans say their representative's position on healthcare reform will be a major factor in their vote in the next congressional election; just over a third say it will be no more than a minor factor." Here is Gallup's chart:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p align="center"><img src="http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/i2uznwqovu-qsc1ftlee2w.gif" border="0" alt="i2uznwqovu" width="521" height="273" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p align="center">&nbsp;</p> 2009-09-08T12:37:03-04:00 1079 false true 2009-09-09T09:39:12-04:00 2009-09-09T09:39:12-04:00 1 1 <p>According to a <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/toplines/pt_survey_toplines/august_2009/toplines_health_care_august_25_26_2009">Rasmussen Reports</a> poll, nearly half of likely voters think the health care overhaul proposed by President Obama and backed by Democrats in Congress will become law this year. Yet, about half of likely voters don't like the plan. Around 50% said that they believed the overhaul would lower the quality of health care, and in answer to a separate question 52% said it would make health costs rise.</p> 2009-08-30T10:17:29-04:00 1064 false true 2009-09-07T09:23:57-04:00 2009-09-07T09:23:57-04:00 1 1 <div><span style="font-size: small;">According to a survey sponsored by AARP, Americans want health care reform, but are not that willing to pay for it: "56% say that it is more important than ever that we address health care reform. When asked what they&rsquo;re most worried about when it comes to health care, respondents focus on rising costs, including insurance premium and prescription drug price hikes and the prospect of not being able to afford health insurance. In spite of those concerns, however, sizeable majorities say they are not willing to pay more in taxes (64%) or in premiums (74%) to cover the uninsured."</span></div> 2009-08-30T10:22:47-04:00 1065 false true 2009-09-01T09:39:18-04:00 2009-09-01T09:39:18-04:00 1 1 <p>By an enormous margin, the American public trusts President Obama FAR more than Republicans on the issue of who better can handle revamping health care: a <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/jul09b_health_care-AM.pdf">NYT/CBS News poll</a> reports that by a 55% to 26% margin, Obama has better ideas on health care than Republicans. A <a href="http://www.tarrance.com/BG-37-questionnaire.pdf">GWU Battleground survey</a> released late last week found Obama with a 21 point lead over Republicans on who would better handle health care reform. <em>PollTrack </em>suggests that with approval numbers this high on the issue, Obama still holds a big political advantage over Republican legislators heading into September's Congressional battle over the issue.</p> 2009-08-02T09:58:45-04:00 1029 false true 2009-08-07T09:19:21-04:00 2009-08-07T09:19:21-04:00 1 1 <p>According to a new Gallup survey, most Americans support health care legislation, but not necessarily this year: "Seven in 10 Americans favor the passage of new health care reform legislation, but less than half (41%) say a new law needs to be passed this year." The good news for the Obama administration is that a VERY solid majority of Americans favor this legislation, albeit disagreeing on the timing. Here is Gallup's Chart:</p> <p align="center"><img src="http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/dzku334mt0yniv7cjbdicg.gif" border="0" alt="dzku334mt0yniv7cjbdicg" width="488" height="342" /></p> 2009-07-26T12:08:50-04:00 1022 false true 2009-07-29T10:06:14-04:00 2009-07-29T10:06:14-04:00 1 1 <p><a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/healthcare/july_2009/cost_not_universal_coverage_is_top_health_care_concern_for_voters">A recently released survey reports that </a><span><span><a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/healthcare/july_2009/cost_not_universal_coverage_is_top_health_care_concern_for_voters">"61% of voters nationwide say that cost is the biggest health care problem facing the nation today</a>." The national telephone survey finds that "just 21% believe the lack of universal health insurance coverage is a bigger problem.</span></span> Only 10% believe the quality of care is the top concern, and 2% point to the inconvenience factor of dealing with the current medical system. Given a choice between health care reform and a tax hike or no health care reform and no tax hike, 47% would prefer to avoid the tax hike and do without reform. Forty-one percent (41%) take the opposite view."</p> 2009-07-19T11:11:45-04:00 1013 false true 2009-07-28T10:22:47-04:00 2009-07-28T10:22:47-04:00 1 1 <p>In yet another sign that President Obama's honeymoon stage may be ending, American support for his handling of health care reform appears to be slipping. <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/121814/More-Disapprove-Than-Approve-Obama-Healthcare.aspx">The latest <em>USA Today/</em>Gallup poll reports</a> that as "the debate over health care reform intensifies,&nbsp; more Americans disapprove (50%) than approve (44%) of the way U.S. President Barack Obama is handling health care policy. There is a tremendous partisan gap in these views, with 74% of Democrats but only 11% of Republicans approving. Independents are more likely to disapprove than to approve of Obama's work on health care." Here is Gallup's chart:</p> <p align="center"><img src="http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/psb7g0hvzek7hs0o1dhmra.gif" border="0" alt="psb7g0hvzek7hs0o1dhmra" width="464" height="284" /></p> <p align="center">&nbsp;</p> 2009-07-22T00:25:14-04:00 1016 false true 2009-07-22T09:30:29-04:00 2009-07-22T09:30:29-04:00 1 1 <div><span style="font-size: small;">According to a new Rasmussen Reports survey, Americans by a small margin--48% to 44%--favor taxing wealthier Americans To pay for health care reform. <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/healthcare/july_2009/50_oppose_government_health_insurance_company">But "just 35% of U.S. voters now support the creation of a government health insurance company to compete with private health insurers</a> . . . 50% of voters oppose setting up a government health insurance company as President Obama and congressional Democrats are now proposing in their health care reform plan" </span></div> <p><span></span></p> 2009-07-17T19:17:39-04:00 1011 false true 2009-07-20T10:08:44-04:00 2009-07-20T10:08:44-04:00 1 1 <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/health/policy/21poll.html?hp">There is wide support for government run health insurance, according to a <em>New York Times/CBS News</em> poll</a>: "Americans overwhelmingly support substantial changes to the health care system and are strongly behind one of the most contentious proposals Congress is considering, a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers . . . The poll found that most Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance and that they said the government could do a better job of holding down health-care costs than the private sector . . . The national telephone survey, which was conducted from June 12 to 16, found that 72 percent of those questioned supported a government-administered insurance plan &mdash; something like Medicare for those under 65 &mdash; that would compete for customers with private insurers. Twenty percent said they were opposed.</p> 2009-06-20T18:44:11-04:00 972 false true 2009-06-23T08:52:20-04:00 2009-06-23T08:52:20-04:00