Support for Health Reform Dips Back to May Levels in KFF August Tracking Poll

Support for health reform fell over the past month, dipping from a 50 percent favorability rating in July to 43 percent now, while 45 percent of the public reported unfavorable views. The dip in favorability returned public opinion on the new law to the even split last seen in May before a modest uptick in support in June and July. But voters have a lot on their minds besides health reform.

Asked what would make the biggest difference in their vote for Congress, the “direction of the nation as a whole” topped the list, named by 34 percent of voters, twice as many as the proportion who chose “specific national issues”. Roughly a quarter said the “candidate’s character and experience” would be the driving factors, and 19 percent named local or state issues.