Economy Still Worries Most Americans
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on September 14th, 2009 4:38 am by HL
Economy Still Worries Most Americans
“One year after Wall Street teetered on the brink of collapse, seven out of 10 Americans lack confidence the federal government has taken safeguards to prevent another financial industry meltdown,” according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.
“Even more — 80% — rate the condition of the economy as poor and a majority worry about their own ability to make ends meet.”
Intensity Gap Closing in Health Care Debate
After a summer of angry debate and protests, a new Washington Post/ABC News poll finds Americans remain almost deadlocked in their opinion of the Democrats’ health-care initiative, with 46% in favor of the proposed changes and 48% opposed. There is also a clean split on Obama’s handling of the issue, with 48% approving and the same number disapproving.
Key finding: “But since mid-August, the percentage ‘strongly’ behind the president on health care has risen to 32 percent, evening out the intensity gap that has plagued him on the subject.”
Though 55% say they like the idea of a public insurance option in the health care plan, if that single provision were removed, opposition to the overall package drops by six percentage points. Backing away from the provision might hurt Obama among his base, but not dramatically so, as 88% of liberal Democrats support the reform plan as is, 81% without the public option.
