Poll: Baucus Popular in Montana on Health Care…with Republicans

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)
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Happily for reformers, the member of Congress with the most power to influence health care legislation is a man who a). has a higher approval rating on the issue in his state among Republicans than among Democrats, and b). is willing to ignore the stated preference of a plurality of his constituents.

According to a new Research 2000 poll commissioned by DailyKos, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) a minority–33 percent–of Montana Democrats approve of Baucus’ actions on health care compared to 55 percent who disapprove. Compare that to Republicans, 49 percent of whom approve and 38 percent of whom disapprove. A clear plurality of Republicans think he’s doing a bang-up job on health care.

On the public option, a plurality of Montanans (47 percent) support “creating a new public health insurance plan that anyone can purchase”. Forty-three percent oppose. Of course Big Sky Democrats strongly favor the public option (78-15), while Montana Republicans strongly oppose it (66-23). But 23 percent Republican support for a public option ain’t too shabby.

Of course, the Senate Finance Committee has ruled out endorsing a public option.

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