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The Spectacle Blog

Polls Show Obama's Health Care Speech Was a Bust

By Philip Klein on 9.15.09 @ 12:22PM

A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds Americans evenly divided on health care legislation following President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress, with 50 percent supporting it and 47 percent opposing it. At the same time, just 38 percent say it will accomplish its goals, and just 43 percent approve of Obama's handling of the health care issue.

"The president's speech apparently failed to galvanize public opinion in the way the White House had hoped," USA Today article concludes. "While it drew a national television audience estimated by Nielsen at more than 32 million people, there's little evidence in the survey that it changed minds."

Meanwhile, Rasmussen, which had been showing a steady rise in support for health care legislation following Obama's speech, today revealed new numbers showing that, "the bounce appears to be over. The latest daily tracking shows that support has fallen all the way back to pre-speech levels."

Yesterday, I noted an ABC/Washington Post poll that found a negligible impact on public opinion -- 46 percent supported legislation and 48 opposed after the speech, compared with 45 percent support and 50 percent opposition in the previous poll, taken mid August.

View all comments (15) | Leave a comment

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Liberal Reader| 9.15.09 @ 4:56PM

This is pretty selective poll reading. Most major polls are finding a modest gain in support for the public option, which is the most significant area of movement.

The gains are not huge; his speech wasn't a "game changer." But there are some gains.

Depend upon it: Wilson may have riled the Tea Baggers, but I don't think he helped you with the average guy. If anything, Wilson's outburst may have as much an impact on these poll numbers as Obama's speech.

Top Hat| 9.15.09 @ 7:10PM

Liberal Reader teabags himself: It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it!

Crystal| 9.16.09 @ 10:44AM

What polls are you referring to? I've heard the public option has been gaining support in the polls.

coolpete| 12.9.09 @ 2:59PM

Most major polls are finding a modest gain in support for the public option . .

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coolpete| 12.10.09 @ 5:14AM

The gains are not huge; his speech wasn't a "game changer." But there are some gains.

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coolpete| 12.11.09 @ 12:27AM

What polls are you referring to? I've heard the public option has been gaining support in the polls.

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abril| 12.11.09 @ 8:08AM

43 percent approve of Obama's handling of the health care issue.

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wade| 12.13.09 @ 12:46PM

President Obama on Wednesday made a passionate call for Congress to fix the nation's ailing health care system in the same spirit that created Social Security and Medicare in difficult times.

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jammie| 12.29.09 @ 4:38AM

Following is the prepared text of President Obama’s speech to Congress on the need to overhaul health care in the United States, as released by the White House.

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internet faxing| 12.31.09 @ 9:02AM

4 Sep 2009 ... Obama's health care reform address is a high-reward gamble with significant potential downsides. ... Obama has been an absolute BUST as a leader. .... With poll numbers in the low 40's it is his party telling him to rub a lamp. ... dem pundits need to go on these chat shows and call a lie