National (US) Poll * December 22, 2009 * U.S. Voters Oppose Health Care - Quinnipiac University

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December 22, 2009 - U.S. Voters Oppose Health Care Plan By Wide Margin, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Say 3-1, Plan Should Not Pay For Abortions

Word format As the Senate prepares to vote on health care reform, American voters "mostly disapprove" of the plan 53 - 36 percent and disapprove 56 - 38 percent of President Barack Obama's handling of the health care issue, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Voters also oppose 72 - 23 percent using any public money in the health care overhaul to pay for abortions, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
American voters also disapprove 51 - 44 percent of President Obama's handling of the economy and disapprove 56 - 37 percent of the way he is creating jobs. But voters favor 52 - 42 percent his plan to use $200 billion left over from the bank bailout for a new stimulus package to create jobs rather than to reduce the budget deficit.
Only 31 percent of voters say Obama's policies will help their personal financial situation, while 37 percent say his policies will hurt and 30 percent say his policies will make no difference. Among voters in households where someone has lost a job in the last year, 37 percent say Obama policies will help them personally, while 37 percent say they will hurt.
Looking at the health care plan, independent voters "mostly disapprove" 58 - 30 percent, as do Republicans 83 - 10 percent. Democrats "mostly approve" 64 - 22 percent.
"As President Barack Obama's numbers on health care have declined so has his margin over Republicans on whom American voters trust most on the issue," said Peter Brown, Assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "In July he enjoyed a 20-point edge on the trust question, and that margin has been narrowing, to 45 - 40 percent today."
While voters oppose the health care plan, they back two options cut from the Senate bill, supporting 56 - 38 percent giving people the option of coverage by a government health insurance plan and backing 64 - 30 percent allowing younger people to buy into Medicare.
On the timing of action of health care, 31 percent support the proposals "currently being considered" and want Congress and the President to take action now; 28 percent oppose those proposals but want action on the issue now, while 36 percent don't want action on the issue now.
"While the Senate leadership reportedly has the votes to pass a health care overhaul plan this week, outside the Beltway there appears to be weak support, both to what voters understand as the plan, and the need to pass that plan now," said Brown. "Although a small majority favors abortion rights, allowing the use of public money for the procedure under a national health care plan, which has been a matter of some dispute in both houses of Congress, is extremely unpopular."
By 73 - 18 percent, voters don't believe President Obama will be able to keep his promise to overhaul health care without increasing the federal deficit and by 56 - 37 percent they don't want the overhaul if it will increase the deficit.
A total of 91 percent of American voters describe the economy as "not so good" or "poor." Voters split 28 - 28 percent on whether it is getting better or worse with 43 percent seeing no change. The results on both questions are virtually identical to when Quinnipiac University asked them in July.
"On Wall Street, the stock market's performance has many people optimistic and economists may be telling us that the recession is over. But on Main Street, Americans think the economy is still in the toilet," Brown said.
But voters say 49 - 29 percent that Obama's policies will help the economy and voters trust him rather than Republicans in Congress 45 - 36 percent to handle the economy.
"In what might be his brightest point in an otherwise dark economic picture, more Americans believe President Obama's policies will help the economy, even if they don't believe those policies will help them personally," said Brown. "And they trust the President more than the Republicans to fix things."
From December 15 - 20, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,616 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.
4. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very satisfied 2% - 4% 2% 2% 3% 2% 8% Smwht satisfied 24 8 41 21 22 26 20 43 Smwht dissatisfied 34 36 35 32 34 34 34 26 Very dissatisfied 40 56 19 45 43 37 43 23 DK/NA 1 - 1 - - 1 1 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Very satisfied 1% 4% 2% 2% 1% 3% 4% 2% 2% Smwht satisfied 27 21 25 24 22 28 32 29 14 Smwht dissatisfied 39 33 32 33 38 33 42 40 26 Very dissatisfied 34 42 41 41 38 35 21 29 58 DK/NA - 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 - WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Very satisfied 2% 2% 1% 1% - 2% 2% Smwht satisfied 22 29 13 18 24 18 15 Smwht dissatisfied 32 38 31 29 38 31 33 Very dissatisfied 43 31 55 51 37 49 50 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - - -
TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 6 Dec 11 Nov 13 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2001 2008 Very satisfied 2 3 3 3 4 21 2 Smwht satisfied 24 26 27 27 31 47 14 Smwht dissatisfied 34 32 30 31 30 19 38 Very dissatisfied 40 39 39 38 34 10 44 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 3 2
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 44% 13% 76% 38% 41% 46% 36% 85% Disapprove 51 85 20 55 55 47 58 11 DK/NA 5 2 4 7 4 6 6 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 50% 42% 42% 44% 46% 43% 72% 50% 22% Disapprove 45 53 52 49 52 54 23 42 75 DK/NA 5 4 6 7 2 3 5 8 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Approve 43% 47% 21% 28% 39% 36% 40% Disapprove 51 50 74 66 59 60 57 DK/NA 6 3 5 6 2 4 4
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - the economy?
APPROVE...... High Low Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 18 Oct 8 Aug 6 Mar 4 Dec 9 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 44 41 43 47 45 57 41 Disapprove 51 54 52 46 49 33 54 DK/NA 5 5 5 7 6 10 5
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - health care?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 38% 9% 69% 32% 36% 40% 31% 74% Disapprove 56 88 26 61 59 54 64 21 DK/NA 6 3 5 7 5 7 6 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 46% 35% 36% 38% 37% 40% 70% 44% 17% Disapprove 49 60 57 55 57 58 25 49 79 DK/NA 5 5 7 7 6 3 5 7 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Approve 37% 42% 18% 23% 32% 33% 34% Disapprove 57 53 78 72 63 63 62 DK/NA 6 5 4 5 5 5 4
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - health care?
Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 July 2 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Approve 38 38 41 41 39 46 Disapprove 56 56 53 51 52 42 DK/NA 6 6 6 8 9 13
10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling - creating jobs?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 37% 12% 66% 28% 34% 40% 31% 73% Disapprove 56 82 29 62 59 52 62 19 DK/NA 8 6 6 10 7 8 7 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Approve 42% 36% 34% 37% 38% 39% 63% 40% 19% Disapprove 50 58 55 54 55 56 32 50 75 DK/NA 7 6 11 9 7 5 5 10 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Approve 36% 38% 20% 25% 33% 32% 33% Disapprove 56 54 74 67 63 61 62 DK/NA 7 8 7 8 4 7 5
11. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent - - - - 1% - - 1% Good 7 5 9 8 7 8 7 10 Not so good 46 40 57 42 45 48 45 56 Poor 45 55 33 49 46 44 47 31 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Excellent - 1% - - - - - - - Good 11 5 7 8 5 10 9 8 6 Not so good 47 45 47 44 53 47 52 50 40 Poor 41 49 44 47 41 42 39 41 53 DK/NA 1 - 2 1 2 - - 1 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Excellent - - - - - - - Good 7 8 5 5 8 7 3 Not so good 44 52 40 44 51 43 35 Poor 47 40 54 51 40 48 61 DK/NA 1 - - - 1 2 1
TREND: Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as - excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
EXLNT+GOOD.... High Low Dec 22 Nov 18 Aug 6 July 2 Apr 29 Dec 10 Mar 4 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2003 2009 Excellent - - - 1 - 3 - Good 7 8 6 7 6 37 3 Not so good 46 42 49 44 41 42 28 Poor 45 49 44 47 52 16 68 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 -
12. Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Better 28% 15% 46% 21% 28% 29% 27% 41% Worse 28 43 13 29 27 28 30 15 The same 43 40 39 49 45 41 42 43 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Better 30% 28% 27% 23% 32% 43% 42% 33% 17% Worse 18 32 29 30 27 20 11 22 41 The same 52 39 41 46 40 36 47 45 40 DK/NA - 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Better 23% 40% 17% 24% 27% 23% 19% Worse 31 19 43 36 23 36 37 The same 44 40 39 39 49 40 43 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 1 1 1
TREND: Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
Dec 22 Aug 6 July 2 Apr 29 Apr 1 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Better 28 28 27 24 19 Worse 28 29 29 33 32 The same 43 41 42 42 47 DK/NA 1 2 2 2 2
13. Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Obama 45% 8% 82% 39% 41% 49% 38% 86% Reps in Congress 36 78 8 33 41 31 42 5 DK/NA 19 15 10 28 18 20 20 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Obama 49% 43% 46% 47% 43% 46% 79% 54% 19% Reps in Congress 31 40 34 33 36 42 10 27 60 DK/NA 20 17 21 20 21 12 11 19 21 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Obama 43% 50% 20% 28% 39% 37% 40% Reps in Congress 36 35 56 49 46 40 39 DK/NA 21 15 23 23 15 23 21
TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Dec 22 Aug 6 July 2 Apr 1 Mar 4 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 President Obama 45 47 54 55 56 Reps in Congress 36 36 32 27 26 DK/NA 19 17 14 18 18
14. Do you think President Obama's policies have helped the economy, hurt the economy, or haven't made a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Helped 37% 10% 64% 33% 36% 39% 32% 75% Hurt 28 53 6 30 33 23 34 3 No difference 31 33 27 33 29 33 31 16 DK/NA 4 4 3 4 2 6 3 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Helped 37% 38% 37% 37% 36% 41% 60% 45% 16% Hurt 19 31 31 25 29 31 5 19 50 No difference 38 28 30 33 32 25 32 33 30 DK/NA 6 3 3 4 3 2 2 3 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Helped 35% 44% 17% 28% 32% 32% 34% Hurt 28 27 47 42 28 38 28 No difference 33 26 32 28 38 26 32 DK/NA 4 2 3 2 2 4 6
TREND: Do you think President Obama's policies have helped the economy, hurt the economy, or haven't made a difference?
Dec 22 Aug 6 2009 2009 Helped 37 37 Hurt 28 29 No difference 31 31 DK/NA 4 4
15. Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help the economy, will hurt the economy, or won't make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Will help 49% 15% 82% 45% 44% 54% 40% 88% Will hurt 29 56 3 33 37 22 36 1 No difference 17 23 11 18 16 18 19 8 DK/NA 5 6 4 4 3 7 5 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Will help 63% 46% 44% 52% 48% 46% 81% 59% 24% Will hurt 19 33 30 23 34 38 5 17 52 No difference 14 17 20 19 16 13 11 19 19 DK/NA 5 4 6 6 2 3 3 5 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Will help 48% 52% 21% 30% 46% 41% 49% Will hurt 28 32 47 42 35 39 29 No difference 18 14 25 23 16 16 17 DK/NA 6 2 6 5 3 4 6
TREND: Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help the economy, will hurt the economy, or won't make a difference?
Dec 22 Aug 6 2009 2009 Will help 49 49 Will hurt 29 33 No difference 17 14 DK/NA 5 4
16. Do you think President Obama's policies have helped your personal financial situation, hurt your personal financial situation, or haven't made a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Helped 15% 5% 25% 12% 16% 14% 10% 45% Hurt 26 41 9 30 27 25 29 12 No difference 58 53 65 58 57 59 60 42 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Helped 15% 17% 13% 17% 10% 13% 16% 18% 11% Hurt 19 28 29 27 22 27 8 22 39 No difference 66 55 57 56 68 60 76 59 49 DK/NA - 1 1 1 - 1 - 1 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Helped 16% 13% 4% 7% 12% 14% 18% Hurt 28 21 36 32 27 28 32 No difference 55 65 59 60 60 58 49 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 - 1
TREND: Do you think President Obama's policies have helped your personal financial situation, hurt your personal financial situation, or haven't made a difference?
Dec 22 Aug 6 2009 2009 Helped 15 13 Hurt 26 23 No difference 58 63 DK/NA 1 1
17. Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help your personal financial situation, will hurt your personal financial situation, or won't make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Will help 31% 7% 51% 30% 27% 35% 23% 72% Will hurt 37 63 13 40 41 33 45 6 No difference 30 29 34 28 31 29 30 23 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 1 3 2 - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Will help 43% 28% 26% 35% 28% 23% 49% 38% 15% Will hurt 27 42 38 33 37 45 12 29 59 No difference 29 28 33 29 32 31 38 30 25 DK/NA 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 3 1 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Will help 31% 31% 10% 17% 28% 27% 37% Will hurt 37 37 58 50 43 42 37 No difference 30 30 30 30 27 29 24 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 2 2 1
TREND: Looking forward, do you think President Obama's policies will help your personal financial situation, will hurt your personal financial situation, or won't make a difference?
Dec 22 Aug 6 2009 2009 Will help 31 33 Will hurt 37 36 No difference 30 28 DK/NA 2 3
18. In the last year, have you or has anyone living in your household been laid off or lost their job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 28% 27% 27% 31% 28% 29% 25% 33% No 72 73 73 69 72 71 75 67 DK/NA - - - - - - - - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Yes 36% 33% 16% 36% 23% 13% 26% 30% 27% No 64 67 84 64 77 87 74 70 73 DK/NA - - - - - - - - - WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Yes 32% 18% 27% 22% 25% 34% 100% No 68 81 73 78 75 65 - DK/NA - - - - - 1 -
19. Do you think that the 200 billion dollars left over from the bank bailout should be used for a stimulus package to create jobs or should it go to reduce the federal budget deficit?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Jobs stimulus 52% 33% 73% 47% 45% 59% 45% 86% Reduce deficit 42 62 21 48 50 35 49 10 DK/NA 6 5 6 5 5 6 6 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Jobs stimulus 62% 49% 49% 57% 50% 43% 75% 55% 38% Reduce deficit 34 45 44 37 45 54 21 39 57 DK/NA 4 6 6 6 5 4 4 6 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Jobs stimulus 55% 46% 36% 40% 45% 49% 62% Reduce deficit 39 49 56 54 48 47 32 DK/NA 6 5 8 6 6 4 6
20. Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Obama 45% 9% 80% 39% 40% 49% 36% 85% Reps in Congress 40 80 10 39 44 36 46 11 DK/NA 16 11 10 22 16 15 18 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Obama 54% 41% 43% 48% 42% 43% 81% 51% 19% Reps in Congress 36 43 38 36 41 44 11 34 62 DK/NA 10 16 19 16 16 12 7 15 19 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Obama 44% 48% 20% 28% 35% 36% 42% Reps in Congress 39 41 58 52 52 42 43 DK/NA 17 12 21 20 13 21 15
TREND: Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care - President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 July 1 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 President Obama 45 44 45 47 46 53 Reps in Congress 40 37 36 31 37 33 DK/NA 16 19 19 21 16 14
21. From what you've heard or read, do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Mostly approve 36% 10% 64% 30% 34% 38% 28% 70% Mostly disapprove 53 83 22 58 56 50 61 17 DK/NA 11 7 14 12 11 12 10 13 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Mostly approve 48% 34% 30% 35% 34% 41% 67% 39% 18% Mostly disapprove 41 58 55 51 56 55 23 47 75 DK/NA 11 8 15 14 10 4 10 14 7 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Mostly approve 34% 41% 17% 22% 30% 26% 33% Mostly disapprove 53 53 72 66 61 61 54 DK/NA 13 7 11 11 9 13 13
TREND: From what you've heard or read, do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress?
Dec 22 Dec 9 2009 2009 Mostly approve 36 38 Mostly disapprove 53 52 DK/NA 11 10
22. Which comes closer to describing your own views - the president and Congress need to take on health care reform now, and I support the proposals currently being considered, the president and Congress need to take on health care reform now, but I don't support the proposals being considered or I don't think the president and Congress should take on health care reform right now?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Now/support 31% 8% 55% 26% 28% 34% 23% 65% Now/don't support 28 29 25 31 28 29 31 9 Not now 36 60 14 38 40 32 41 14 DK/NA 5 3 6 4 4 5 4 12 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Now/support 37% 30% 29% 34% 26% 32% 53% 35% 16% Now/don't support 33 30 22 26 33 29 30 33 24 Not now 25 37 43 34 37 37 14 26 57 DK/NA 6 3 6 6 4 2 3 7 3 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Now/support 30% 35% 12% 17% 26% 25% 29% Now/don't support 27 32 28 27 36 25 33 Not now 38 30 55 50 36 46 33 DK/NA 6 3 4 5 3 4 5
23. Do you support or oppose giving people the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan that would compete with private plans?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 56% 24% 83% 54% 53% 58% 51% 80% Oppose 38 70 12 41 44 33 43 13 DK/NA 6 6 5 5 3 9 6 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 67% 54% 50% 57% 56% 57% 85% 66% 33% Oppose 27 41 42 35 39 41 12 29 63 DK/NA 5 5 8 8 4 2 3 6 5 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Support 55% 58% 36% 42% 57% 51% 59% Oppose 37 40 57 51 41 43 34 DK/NA 8 2 6 7 2 6 7
TREND: Do you support or oppose giving people the option of being covered by a government health insurance plan that would compete with private plans?
Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 July 1 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Support 56 56 57 61 62 69 Oppose 38 38 35 34 32 26 DK/NA 6 6 8 6 6 5
24. Do you support or oppose allowing Americans ages 55 to 64 to purchase Medicare coverage?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 64% 50% 81% 57% 64% 63% 60% 72% Oppose 30 44 14 36 32 29 34 20 DK/NA 6 6 5 7 4 8 7 8 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 80% 65% 49% 66% 63% 62% 82% 68% 52% Oppose 17 29 43 29 30 34 13 27 43 DK/NA 3 6 8 6 7 4 5 5 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Support 64% 62% 53% 52% 60% 57% 68% Oppose 30 32 39 40 36 37 25 DK/NA 6 6 8 8 4 6 7
25. Do you support or oppose allowing abortions to be paid for by public funds under a health care reform bill?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 23% 5% 38% 23% 21% 25% 23% 20% Oppose 72 91 54 74 73 70 72 67 DK/NA 5 4 8 4 6 5 5 13 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Support 28% 20% 22% 20% 23% 37% 49% 27% 6% Oppose 69 73 72 75 71 61 46 66 90 DK/NA 2 7 6 6 5 2 5 7 4 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Support 19% 35% 6% 15% 21% 21% 20% Oppose 76 59 91 80 75 73 75 DK/NA 5 6 3 4 4 6 5
26. President Obama has pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our federal budget deficit over the next decade. Do you think that President Obama will be able to keep his promise or do you think any health care plan that Congress passes and President Obama signs will add to the federal budget deficit?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Keep promise 18% 3% 32% 13% 16% 19% 13% 39% Add to deficit 73 92 52 80 76 70 80 38 DK/NA 9 4 15 7 8 10 7 22 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Keep promise 17% 19% 16% 18% 16% 17% 32% 18% 9% Add to deficit 75 74 70 71 75 77 56 73 85 DK/NA 7 7 14 11 8 6 12 9 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Keep promise 16% 21% 7% 10% 14% 14% 17% Add to deficit 73 74 87 83 81 75 77 DK/NA 11 5 6 7 5 11 6
TREND: President Obama has pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our federal budget deficit over the next decade. Do you think that President Obama will be able to keep his promise or do you think any health care plan that Congress passes and President Obama signs will add to the federal budget deficit?
Dec 22 Dec 9 Nov 19 Oct 8 Aug 5 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 Keep promise 18 19 19 19 21 Add to deficit 73 74 72 71 72 DK/NA 9 7 9 9 7
27. Do you agree or disagree with the following - overhauling the nation's health care system is so important that it should be enacted even if it significantly increases the federal budget deficit.
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 37% 11% 63% 34% 35% 39% 32% 59% Disagree 56 84 29 60 59 53 63 24 DK/NA 7 4 8 6 6 8 5 17 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. POL PHIL......... 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Lib Mod Con Agree 44% 36% 35% 41% 34% 39% 67% 40% 20% Disagree 51 60 54 51 61 60 31 53 74 DK/NA 4 5 11 9 5 1 3 6 6 WHITE............. NoColl Coll BrnAgn Mltry JobLoss Degree Degree Evngl Prot Cath HsHlds HsHldsQ18 Agree 35% 42% 19% 26% 34% 27% 40% Disagree 56 55 77 69 61 66 54 DK/NA 8 2 4 5 5 7 6
TREND: Do you agree or disagree with the following: Overhauling the nation's health care system is so important that it should be enacted even if it significantly increases the federal budget deficit.
Dec 22 Aug 5 2009 2009 Agree 37 37 Disagree 56 57 DK/NA 7 6