Just before President Obama gave his speech to Congress last week, 44% of voters nationwide supported his health care reform proposal and 53% were opposed. Today, eight days after the speech and a brief bounce, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% support the health care plan and 53% are opposed. Absolutely no change.It’s worth noting that support and opposition were at precisely the same levels in mid-July. In fact, other than brief blips following a nationally televised press conference by the president and his recent speech to Congress, opposition to the plan has been stable at 53% throughout July and August and now into September.
The latest figures show that 25% Strongly Favor the plan and 43% are Strongly Opposed. In late August, those figures were 23% and 43% respectively.
This suggests public opinion is hardening when it comes to the plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats that is currently working its way through Congress.
Rasmussen Reports will conclude its daily tracking of support for the health care plan tonight and release the new findings tomorrow morning at 9 EDT. After this week, Rasmussen Reports will continue tracking the issue on a weekly basis (see day-by-day numbers).
While many credit or blame the town hall protests for building opposition to the plan, it appears they were simply a reflection of public opinion rather than a creator of it. This sense is confirmed by the fact that Obama’s approval ratings fell more in June and July before stabilizing in August.
One thing that did change during the month of August is that public perception of the protesters improved. after the initial shock wore off. Most voters came to believe that the purpose of the town hall meetings was for members of Congress to listen rather than speak. That’s partly because just 22% believe Congress has a good understanding of the legislation.
While some Democrats have charged that opposition to the president’s plan is based upon racism, just 12% of voters agree.
Prior to the president's speech, most people with insurance said it’s likely they would be forced to change coverage if the plan passes. As Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal: “The most important fundamental is that 68% of American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent … Most of these voters approach the health care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.”
Despite lukewarm support, 50% still say that health care reform is at least somewhat likely to pass this year. That figure includes 19% who say passage is Very Likely.
If the plan passes, 27% of voters say the quality of care will get better, and 51% say it will get worse. In August, the numbers were 23% better and 50% worse.
Fifty-two percent (52%) say passage of the plan will make the cost of health care go up while 19% say it will make costs go down. In August, 52% thought the plan would lead to higher costs, and just 17% thought it would achieve the stated goal of lowering costs.
Voters overwhelmingly believe that every American should be able to buy the same health insurance plan that Congress has. Most favor limits on jury awards for medical malpractice claims and think that tort reform will significantly reduce the cost of health care.
The health care debate has produced a difficult political environment for Democrats. Several incumbent Democratic senators currently are behind in their reelection bids including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada, Chris Dodd in Connecticut and Michael Bennet in Colorado. Republicans appear to have a better shot than expected at hanging on to the New Hampshire Senate seat, and GOP incumbent Richard Burr leads in North Carolina.
Democrats also trail in the 2009 governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia.
The health care debate has become one focal point for voters frustrated by a string of government actions. Voters overwhelmingly opposed the bailout of the financial industry and the bailout and takeover of General Motors. (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform)
