Polls: In Key States, Public Option Far More Popular Than Senate Plan
Okay, this should really give a boost to those arguing that Dems should pass the public option via reconciliation — for the specific reason that it will make the Senate health reform bill more popular.
A batch of state polls by the non-partisan Research 2000 shows that in multiple states represented by key Dem Senators who will have to decide whether to support reconciliation, the public option polls far better than the Senate bill does, often by lopsided margins.
Here’s a rundown, sent over by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which commissioned the polls:
* In Nevada, only 34% support the Senate bill, while 56% support the public option.
* In Illinois, only 37% support the Senate bill, while 68% support the public option.
* In Washington State, only 38% support the Senate bill, while 65% support the public option.
* In Missouri, only 33% support the Senate bill, while 57% support the public option.
* In Virginia, only 36% support the Senate bill, while 61% support the public option.
* In Iowa, only 35% support the Senate bill, while 62% support the public option.
*In Minnesota, only 35% support the Senate bill, while 62% support the public option.
* In Colorado, only 32% support the Senate bill, while 58% support the public option.
When the White House unveiled its new proposal to take to the summit, it did not include a public option, as expected. Obviously, including one would have made it easier for Republicans to argue that Dems aren’t making a good-faith effort to compromise, since the public option is the centerpiece of the dreaded “government takeover” that Republicans have warned against.
But if the summit yields no compromises, and Dems decide to forge ahead on their own and pass reform via reconciliation, including the public option at that point might make some political sense, if the above polls are to be believed.
************************************
Update: I should have noted that the polls were commissioned by not just PCCC, but also Democracy for America and Credo. And the groups are also out with a petition urging lawmakers to understand that signatories want a good bill rather than bipartisanship for its own sake.
Update II: The full poll on all the states, with partisan breakdowns and other questions, is online right here.
This blog’s homepage is here. RSS feed here. Twitter feed here. Email me here.
Time to move the debate beyond the socialism scare tactics and work for the people of this nation. Palin has gone to Canada in the past to take advantage of their system. Why was it not called socialism then? The politics of doing nothing is bad politics at best.
What a pathetic bunch on here. This is a bad bill…PERIOD! Get government OUT OF THE WAY! This **** about polling “key states” revealing the public wants this is ****. Do a fair UNBIASED poll and you will find a different story!