Alexandria, VA, August 26, 2009 – New
national survey data released today by Public Opinion Strategies
shows the country’s opinion of President Obama’s
health care plan is virtually the same as that measured
for President Clinton’s plan in 1994.
“This data is highly problematic for the President
and clearly demonstrates the struggle President Obama
faces as he tries to sell his health care plan to Americans.” said
Bill McInturff, co‑founder and partner of Public
Opinion Strategies.
The survey, conducted August 11‑13, provides some
revealing points of comparison for public opinion today
versus June of 1994:
President
Clinton’s Plan (June 1994)
|
President
Obama’s Plan (August 2009) |
| |
|
| 67% |
Familiar with the plan |
| |
|
| 23% |
Favor the plan |
| 35% |
Oppose the plan |
| 42% |
Have no opinion |
| |
|
| 52% |
"The more I hear about the plan the less I
like it" |
| 34% |
"The more I hear about the plan the more I
like it" |
|
| 64% |
Familiar with the plan |
| |
|
| 25% |
Favor the plan |
| 37% |
Oppose the plan |
| 37% |
Have no opinion |
| |
|
| 49% |
"The more I hear about the plan the less I
like it" |
| 38% |
"The more I hear about the plan the more I
like it" |
|
McInturff stated, “This data is hauntingly similar
to what we saw in 1994. President Obama is learning
the same lesson that the Clintons learned: Too much government
intervention in the health care system can alienate more
voters than it attracts.”
Today more people are opposed to President Obama’s
health care plan than at any point in 1993 or 1994 when
Clinton was trying to pass his plan. Importantly,
opposition does not just run along partisan lines. Key
swing voter groups, such as seniors, women, and Independents
express the same level of opposition or more to Obama’s
plan as they did to Clinton’s plan fifteen years
ago.
The findings are from a national survey of 800 registered
voters paid for by Public Opinion Strategies. The
survey was conducted August 11‑13, 2009 and has a
margin of error +3.5%. It included 690 landline
voters and 110 cell phone only voters. Comparison
is made to a national survey of 800 adults, conducted June
18‑20, 1994 by Public Opinion Strategies.
To view topline
data, click here:
To view charts, click here:
About Public Opinion Strategies & Bill
McInturff
Public Opinion Strategies is a survey research company
specializing in political, corporate, and public policy
research, with offices in Washington, Denver and Los Angeles. Bill
McInturff is partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies. He
has devoted much of his polling career to the issue of
health care and is well known for conducting the polling
for the “Harry and Louise” television commercials
that contributed to the defeat of the Clinton plan in 1994.
