Advice To Dems: Sell The Bill
Dems can salvage political goodwill from the messy and electorally painful health care bill, but only if they invest the time and resources necessary to convince voters it was a good idea to pass the mammoth package, according to a top Dem pollster.
A survey conducted across vulnerable Dem districts shows most voters warm to the proposal once they learn more about it, according to a copy of a memo obtained from Capitol Hill and political sources. Included in the poll were 92 districts held by Frontline Dems and Blue Dogs, districts where Dem incumbents would feel the most heat for supporting the legislation.
Dems will target white middle-aged voters, white women under 65 and white married women. Those groups respond most positively when Dems explain what is in the bill, pollsters found.
The poll, conducted by prominent Dem pollster John Anzalone, who conducted some polling for Pres. Obama during the '08 campaign, shows a plurality of voters currently oppose the health care bill; just 35% of swing voters favor the bill based on what they know about it. But when they hear more about it, 51% of all voters, and 50% of swing voters support the measure.
Dems should focus on provisions of the bill that require coverage even if someone has a pre-existing condition, and on a provision that requires members of Congress to have the same coverage as other Americans, Anzalone writes in the polling memo.
"Not only are they the most popular components of reform among voters overall, but also among key audiences, including seniors. Based on these results, any messaging in support of reform -- to any audience -- should prominently highlight these components," Anzalone and pollster Matt Hogan wrote.
And though Dems have taken heat for the process by which health care legislation has progressed this year, expect the party to argue that their efforts to allow a majority vote on the bill were justified. Those who back reform "should avoid process debates," the pollsters write, but they say Dems can use the argument that no 60-vote requirement is in the Constitution effectively.
Anzalone's poll surveyed 2,010 likely voters in 92 districts held by Dem incumbents. Those incumbents included members of the DCCC's Frontline program for vulnerable Dems; conservative Blue Dog Dems; and those who hold rural districts. It was conducted for AFSCME, CWA and the NEA, 3 pro-reform labor unions.
That is so much BS. It's also known as a push poll. You only address your selling points and ignore the parts that people hate.
There is no way these "prominent pollsters? are explaining the whole 4,300 page bill on the phone. Liberals are really getting desperate to even publish this kind of crap.
After hearing only the pro-Dem side on the bill, basically half the people still don't like it. And this is supposed to be evidence of its popularity? Just how do Dems plan to keep people from hearing the other side of the story?
Any Congressman stupid enough to fall for this deserves to lose his or her seat.
I would count on that! In fact, Obama is tanking in the polls now and almost every Dem incumbent is in serious trouble. If this bill passes, taxes go up, health care access and qualitiy decreases, seniors are thrown under the bus and America will be BANKRUPT!!!!
Tell me, what platform will these corrupt, self-serving politicians run on - the amount deficit they created or the huge tax increase?????
fascinating how you put your point. VRy interesting to read it
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