Poll shows ACA with its head above water
03/31/14 05:04 PM—UPDATED 03/31/14 05:06 PM
The polling consensus on the Affordable Care Act has been predictable for quite a while. “Obamacare” isn’t popular, though the “Affordable Care Act” tends to fare better. Most Americans are convinced they don’t like the law, but more detailed surveys show people like what’s in the law quite a bit.
But today, a poll showed something new: in at least one survey, the ACA is no longer underwater.
Public support for the Affordable Care Act narrowly notched a new high in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, while criticism of Barack Obama’s handling of the law’s rollout – although still substantial – has eased from its peak last fall.
Views hardly are enthusiastic: With the year’s sign-up deadline upon us, Americans split on Obamacare, 49 percent in support, 48 percent opposed. But that compares with a 40-57 percent negative rating after the initial failure of the federal enrollment website last November.
When was the last time a Washington Post/ABC News poll showed “Obamacare” with more supporters than opponents? Never. It’s why this poll seems to be generating quite a bit of attention this afternoon: it’s not only new, it’s different.
And while it’s understandable that results like these will give a well-timed morale boost to those hoping to see the law succeed, I’d recommend at least some caution.
For one thing, it’s one poll. As everyone should know by now, it’s better to look at aggregate polling averages and trend lines, rather than over-interpret the results of a single survey. And in the case of the ACA, there’s been an uptick in support over the last couple of months, but it’s only a few points and it’s still not close to a majority.
more:
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/poll-shows-aca-its-head-above-water
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