Friday, September 4, 2009

Support for Public Option in the States

NOTE: This page is being continually updated beyond its original posting on 9/4, whenever I become aware of new state-specific polls.

Whereas there have been many national polls gauging support for a public option, what likely is more important to individual lawmakers is the reception to such a plan in their home state or district. The electorates before whom members of Congress must stand for re-election, after all, are state or local, not national. All members of the U.S. Senate and some members of the U.S. House (from low-population states such as Alaska, Delaware, and North Dakota) represent a full statewide constituency.

The left-leaning Daily Kos website, using independent pollster Research 2000, has been surveying support in various states for the public option (as part of potential federal legislation). DK/R2K's standard question-wording and support levels in the states surveyed are as follows:

Do you favor or oppose creating a government-administered health insurance option that anyone can purchase to compete with private insurance plans?

Arkansas... Favor 55%, Oppose 38% (Added 9/14)

[A University of Arkansas poll, in the field October 14-28, found 39% support and 48% opposition to a public option (Added 11/22)]

Connecticut Favor 68%, Oppose 21% (Added 9/15)

Kentucky... Favor 46%, Oppose 45%

Maine....Favor 58%, Oppose 29% (Added 9/18)

.....[Democracy Corps also recently polled Maine, including a number of questions pertaining to health care policy (added 9/30)]

Montana*.. Favor 47%, Oppose 43% (added 9/30; this poll was taken August 17-19 -- my apologies for missing it)

Nebraska*.. Favor 39%, Oppose 47%

Nevada..... Favor 52%, Oppose 40%

[Ohio (from Quinnipiac poll)... Favor 57%, Oppose 35% (added 10/1)]

*Worded "Do you favor or oppose creating a new public health insurance plan that anyone can purchase?"

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