True North

The more people see of ObamaCare and the way Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have to force it through Congress, the less they like it.  Rasmussen’s latest survey on the legislation shows support for the bill reaching its nadir, 38%, with an 18-point deficit from public opposition,  which is 56%.  It’s the first time in Rasmussen’s surveys of likely voters that support for Barack Obama’s signature agenda item has dropped below 40%:

Just 38% of voters now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s the lowest level of support measured for the plan in nearly two dozen tracking polls conducted since June.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% now oppose the plan.

Half the survey was conducted before the Senate voted late Saturday to begin debate on its version of the legislation. Support for the plan was slightly lower in the half of the survey conducted after the Senate vote.

Prior to this, support for the plan had never fallen below 41%. Last week, support for the plan was at 47%. Two weeks ago, the effort was supported by 45% of voters.

The spread against ObamaCare jumped significantly in the last week, as Harry Reid prepared his version for the Senate. It went from -2%, within the margin of error, to -18%, the largest gap between supporters and opponents.  The previous high had been 15 points at the end of September, with opposition peaked at the current 56%.  The new gap suggests that more core supporters have begun to fall by the wayside.

The big takeaway from the internals is, as always, independent voters.  They are looking a lot more like Republicans on this issue.  Where Republican voters oppose ObamaCare 83/13, independents aren’t far behind at 70/23.  Self-described moderates have fled as well, opposing ObamaCare by almost exactly the overall topline, 55/39.

Majorities of both men (61%) and women (52%) among likely voters now oppose ObamaCare.  Every age demographic except 18-29 year olds oppose it by majorities ranging from 58% to 65%. Every income demographic except the under-$20K group opposes it by a majority, even the heretofore sympathetic $100K+ demo, which opposes it 58/41 — with 50% strongly opposed.

The Democrats are looking at an electoral meltdown next year if they push this bill through Congress.  The more people see it, and the more they see the way Reid, Pelosi, and Obama are attempting to stuff it down their throats, the more they dislike it.

Cross-posted at Hot Air.