Most Oppose Obama's Health Proposal, but Give Low Marks to Republicans

Voters oppose President Obama's health care reform plan by 47 percent to 40 percent with 12 percent undecided, but they do support several key elements that are part of the proposal, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted Sept. 29-Oct. 5.

They also trust Obama to do a better job of addressing the issue than congressional Republicans by a 47 percent to 31 percent margin, with 21 percent undecided. Overall, voters have an unfavorable opinion of the Republican Party by a 53 percent to 25 percent margin with 18 percent undecided, while they view the Democratic Party unfavorably, 46-38, with 13 percent undecided.

But voters do not want Congress to pass an overhaul bill without bipartisan support. Fifty-seven percent hold that view while 37 percent say Democrats should push a bill through on their own, if necessary. That said, by 59 percent to 29 percent, with 12 percent undecided, they do not believe congressional Republicans are making a good-faith effort to cooperate with Obama and the Democrats.

Fifty percent support the proposal to require people to have health insurance, compared to 45 percent who do not, with 4 percent undecided. (The margin of error in this poll is 1.9 points.) That's a turnaround since Quinnipiac asked this question in July and 51 percent opposed the idea and 44 percent supported it.

Sixty-nine percent support giving people the option of turning to a government health insurance plan that would compete with private insurers, compared to 34 percent who oppose it. That proposal is in the House bills, but a pair of Democratic measures that would create a public option failed in the Senate Finance Committee late last month.