WSJ/NBC News Poll: Public Attitudes on the Public Option

October 28, 2009

3/4's Support Public Plan As An Option

Susan Davis reports on the latest WSJ/NBC News poll.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans believe it is extremely or quite important to give Americans the choice between a government-run health care plan and a private plan in any final health care bill, according to the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll out later today.

Some 73% said it was important to do so - 45% called it "extremely" important while 27% said it was "quite important."

On the other end, less than one quarter, 22%, said it was either not that important (8%) or not at all important (15%) to create a health plan that would complete with private industry.

The strength of the support continues to come from self-identified Democrats, a majority of which, 56%, said it was extremely important to include a public option. Still, more than one in three Republicans, 34%, also said it was extremely important, as did 39% of independents.

While Americans overwhelming said they should have a choice in the matter, asked whether they favor or oppose the create of a public option to compete with private industry, the response was more divided.

Nearly half, 48%, said they support the public option while 42% said they oppose it. Those numbers aren’t radically different from the August WSJ/NBC News poll, in which 46% favored and 48% opposed-but it could suggest support for the public option is growing while opposition is softening.