Drew
Altman, Kaiser Family Foundation February 14, 2020
Reproduced from Kaiser Family Foundation;
Chart: Axios Visuals
Health care was voters’ top issue in both Iowa
and New Hampshire, and it benefitted Sen. Bernie Sanders as well as his more
moderate rivals.
The big picture: Sanders has emerged as a national
front-runner thanks in part to a base that’s deeply committed to his Medicare
for All plan, even as polling data indicate that more moderate ideas like a
public option have a broader base of support.
By the numbers: 37% of voters in the New Hampshire exit poll said
health care was their top issue, placing it ahead of climate change, income
inequality or foreign policy. Results were similar in Iowa entrance polls.
·
A majority (61%) of
New Hampshire primary voters supported both a public option and a Sanders-style
single-payer plan.
·
Just 6% support only single-payer,
and not a public option, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of
AP VoteCast data, while 26% support a more moderate plan but not single-payer.
“Single-payer or bust” voters overwhelmingly supported Sanders, while
the “public option or bust” group was split among Pete Buttigieg (35%), Amy
Klobuchar (34%) and Joe Biden (12%).
My thought bubble: The hardcore single-payer fans are a small
group, even among Democrats.
·
It’s big enough to win
in a crowded primary, but the broader — albeit divided — support for a more
moderate plan may be a signal about the general election.
Yes, but: Even among those Democratic voters in New Hampshire who
said health care was the most important issue, more said it’s very important to have a candidate who
can beat President Trump (89%) than one who has the best policy ideas (60%).
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