Tracking Poll Finds Health Care Second Most Important Issue Behind Iraq In 2008 Presidential Campaign

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 30 Oct 2007 - 8:00 PDT

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Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008, Kaiser Family Foundation: According to the latest tracking poll, health care ranks second behind the war in Iraq as an issue that Democrats, independents and Republicans want presidential candidates to discuss. Among Republicans, 30% name health care as one of the top two issues -- the highest percentage recorded for the group since the tracking poll began in March. The latest information also finds that health care is of greater importance to women and that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has solidified her lead as the candidate most associated with health care issues. The poll also shows Democrats, Republicans and independents want to hear the candidates talk about somewhat different issues. When asked to pick from a list of issues, Republicans by a two-to-one margin say they'd rather hear about reducing health care costs (44%) than expanding coverage for the uninsured (21%). Independents are slightly more likely to pick costs (39%) over coverage (30%), while Democrats are split between the two (41% say coverage, 38% costs). Fewer people say they want to hear candidates discuss quality of care and medical errors (15% overall), or reducing government spending on health programs (7%). The poll is available online.

The poll is part of a broader effort by the Kaiser Family Foundation to provide a central hub for resources and information about health policy issues in the 2008 election. More information is available online at www.health08.org (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 10/26).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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