MOBSTERS 44% - COMMIES 41%

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Voters Give GOP First-Time Lead on Health Care

For the first time in over two years of polling, voters trust Republicans slightly more than Democrats on the handling of the issue of health care.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that voters favor the GOP on the issue 44% to 41%.
Democrats held a four-point lead on the issue last month and a 10-point lead in June. For most of the past two years, more than 50% of voters said they trusted Democrats on health care. The latest results mark the lowest level of support measured for the party on the now-contentious issue.

Public support for the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats has fallen to a new low with just 42% of U.S. voters now in favor of it. That’s down five points from two weeks ago and down eight points from six weeks ago.

Overall, Republicans lead Democrats in terms of voter trust on eight out of 10 key issues for the second consecutive month, and the two are tied on one issue.

Republican candidates continue to hold a modest lead over Democrats for the seventh straight week in the Generic Congressional Ballot.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The GOP now holds a six-point lead on the top issue of the economy, an advantage that has changed little over the past four months.

Health care is not the only issue which the Republicans are enjoying a first-time lead. Voters now trust the GOP more than Democrats on the issue of education, 41% to 38%. This is also the first time in over two years the Republicans have held an advantage on that issue. Democrats led Republicans on education by three points in July and seven points in June.

Republicans lead Democrats on Social Security for the second straight month, this time by a 43% to 39% margin. Social Security is another issue where Democrats have enjoyed consistent leads in recent years.

The GOP maintains a strong 51% to 35% lead on taxes, after holding the same lead in July. Republicans have been trusted more by voters on the issue of taxes in every poll conducted since February.

Recent polling shows that 54% of U.S. voters say tax cuts for the middle class are more important than new spending for health care reform, even as the president’s top economic advisers signal that tax hikes may be necessary to fund the plan. But 76% say it is likely taxes will have to be raised on the middle class to cover the cost of health care reform.

The parties are tied this month on the issue of the war in Iraq, each receiving 42% support. The GOP held a four-point lead on the issue last month and an eight-point lead in June. Republicans hold a 47% to 43% lead on national security and the War on Terror, after leading by nine points last month.

New polling shows that Americans remain skeptical of most of the countries in the Middle East as one war in the region winds down and another one intensifies.

The only issue the Democrats currently hold an advantage on this month is government ethics and corruption. Democrats now lead 34% to 31% on the issue, after trailing Republicans for the past two months.

Finally, Republicans hold a 46% to 36% lead on abortion, up from a seven-point lead last month.