A new poll released last night by Rasmussen Reports shows that the contest for the U.S. Senate seat remains basically where it was last time a poll was conducted.
Former U.S. Representative Rob Simmons polled at 48% against Dodd’s 35%. Linda McMahon also polled well, leading Dodd by a 44%-38% margin. Even Peter Schiff polled slightly ahead of Dodd, 40%-39%.
The drumbeat of Democrats expressing public concern is sure to increase between now and the next Quinnipiac Poll which should be in mid-January. Much more “dire” polling could push even more Democrats to demand Dodd’s ouster.
At the same time, Politico has an article today noting the silence of the GOP’s national apparatus regarding Mr. Dodd these days. CTGOP Chairman Chris Healy summed up the feelings of many people across the Nutmeg State with this:
But, he added, “Chris Dodd is not a quitter — I don’t anticipate his quitting. He’s still a formidable candidate.”
The article observes that the National Republican Senatorial Committee hasn’t released an attack on Sen. Dodd since the middle of November, though with two Republican candidates doing it every day one would have to wonder what the point would be.
All in all, it’s another difficult day to be Chris Dodd.
11 responses so far ↓
Interesting new Rasmussen figures on public option:
“Forty-three percent (43%) of Connecticut voters favor the so-called “public option,” while 37% are opposed. But if that plan might cause employers to drop coverage and push their workers onto a government-run plan, the numbers change dramatically. Then 30% favor it, and 56% are opposed.”
The CEO from Aetna was on CNBC this AM praising the Senate for dropping the public option.
The new Gallup also reports a low in Obama’s approval.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/12/obama_47_pct_approval_new_gall.html
Don….it appears that those 55-65 ( me) will have the option of medicare…and we can still contract privately with an insurance carrier for backup insurance….also medicaid elgibility will be increased.
Bruce,
Theoretically…
There are lots of moving parts in the Obama plan. One of them involves reduced funds for medicare (or is it medicaid; I’m so confused), and of course all the uninsured will be insured by YOU in the new plan. Where will the doctors come from? And then there’s the national debt, and the dred suspicion that China — no longer investing in U.S. futrures (increasingly worthless dollars) — may just move to Canada to escape losses. Anyway, I hope it all works out for the best. I know you do too.
Don….you and I are already paying for the uninsured…our taxes are being used to refund hospitals that see uninsured patients….in addition our taxes also pay for supplementing already existing community health centers ( usually in the urban centers)…and we also fund the VA system and the federal employees system…
Certainly the doctors will reap a benefit here as medicare will ensure payment to them,while it might not be as high as what they would get in the private market,it still will be substantial.In addition, those doctors will get market rates as many of us in the 55-65 ages will supplement medicare with private insurance.
China funded our Iraq war..( imagine a communist government as our partner…shades of WW2)….and is our main international trading partner with a whole host of areas in which we work together with them. I hardly see them disinvesting from us. In fact while their investment in futures is decreasing…their investment in our businesses and in our property and real estate is increasing.
Quinnipiac’s new numbers suggest more support for the so-called Public Option (56/38), but lowered support for Obama on his handling of health care and the economy. No one seems to think health care reform will not add to the budget deficit.
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1403
There isn’t any cost-containment in the plan except for brute force (fhe Feds setting the Medicare reimbursement rates at below market prices).
We’ll see private insurers raising rates in the 19 to 55 market for private plans to offset losses in the other markets.
Waiting to see the CBO estimates based on the Medicare change.
It looks like this will be the Senate’s best shot:
Medicaid will be means tested and fully subsidized up to 150% of the poverty level. Medicare (55 to 64) and exchange policies will be subsidized from 150% and phased out at 400% of the poverty level
No denial for pre-existing conditions.
Lengthen COBRA to 36 months.
Parents can keep kids on their policy util 25.
Cap price variance based on age at 3X.
Each State will have an open exchange like Massachussetts with 3 companies offering a gold, silver and bronze plans.
Subsidized plans will not offer an abortion rider.
Insurance coverage is mandated by law with a progressive penalty system.
Goatboy….Thank you for the summary.
The findings on skepticism that any plan will not be deficit-neutral is perhaps the most interesting aspect of this poll. It seems after 45 years of promises about government benefits that will magically be free, even Northeastern liberals have figured it out. There is no free lunch. Or cardiograms, for that matter. Good catch, Buckley.
Read this excellent piece from The New Yorker on the Senate version of the bill:
Testing, Testing.
Chris…TY for the good article…
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