Polls show Dems face uphill climb in selling health votes to electorate

USA Today On Politics Blog: A USA Today/Gallup Poll that will be published in Tuesday's USA Today "shows an uphill selling job ahead for President Obama and congressional Democrats to convince most Americans that the health care overhaul passed last week will help them and their families. In the poll, 50% call passage of the bill 'a bad thing' and 47% say it was 'a good thing.'" These findings are less favorable than a one-day poll taken a week earlier-- a day after the health overhaul measure was approved by the House of Representatives. "The new poll of 1,033 adults was taken by landline and cellphone over three days, Friday through Sunday, as the debate over the legislation continued unabated. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points" (Camia, 3/29).

Miami Herald: A survey and accompanying analysis released over the weekend by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research concludes that Floridians dislike the new health care law. "Only 34 percent of Florida voters support the new law while 54 percent are against it, according to the poll. Opposition is significantly strong among two crucial blocs: those older than 65 and voters with no party affiliation. Seniors disfavor the bill by a 65-25 percent margin, while independents oppose the law 62-34." The poll, which was conducted after President Obama signed the health bill into law, found high negatives for Obama and for Florida Sen. Bill Nelson (Caputo, 3/27).

Politico described that poll as "the dose of cold water Democrats may need to temper their expectations on health care's electoral impact" (Burns, 3/29).