Poll finds health law's support sliding

Jun 7 2013

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC survey concludes that more Americans than ever before view the health law as a bad idea. Just as these numbers are rolling out, the White House is launching its own messaging effort -- reaching out to Democrats and Republicans, high-ranking officials and lawmakers -- to get people to sign up for coverage through the overhaul's new online health insurance exchanges.

Wall Street Journal: Poll Finds Support Slumping For Health Law
Americans' unease with President Barack Obama's health-care law has intensified, just as the administration is gearing up to persuade people to sign up for some of its major provisions, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey finds. Prior Journal/NBC polls have found more people calling the health law a bad idea rather than a good one. But the number calling it a bad idea reached a high of 49% in a poll of 1,000 adults taken between May 30 and June 2, with 43% "strongly" holding that view (O'Connor and Radnofsky, 6/6).

Politico: Selling Of Obamacare Underway
The Obama administration is reaching out to Democrats and Republicans in Congress as it gears up to try to sell Obamacare to the public this summer. For the Democrats, the meetings are part of a substantial messaging effort that will get under way to encourage people to sign up for health coverage through the new Obamacare exchanges starting on Oct. 1. They've involved high-level officials and lawmakers. The message? Rely on the facts, not the politics, of the health law. Now is the time to give Obamacare a constituent outreach touch, à la other government programs such as Medicare and Social Security: Help people sign up, participants say (Haberkorn and Cunningham, 6/6).

Here's how the law is playing in one particular Senate race --

The Associated Press: Ad Targets Shaheen, Health Care Law
A conservative advocacy group is airing a tongue-in-cheek ad suggesting New Hampshire families would be reduced to serving their children a single potato chip as a side dish thanks to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's support for President Obama's health care overhaul law…Shaheen, a Democrat who is up for re-election next year, has said that the law will help thousands of New Hampshire residents by addressing health care costs and adding stability to coverage (Ramer, 6/6).