Would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government administered health insurance plan -- something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get -- that would compete with private health insurance plans?
Favor 65%
Oppose 26%
Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea to raise income taxes on households and businesses that make more than $250,000 a year in order to help provide health insurance for people who are not covered by health insurance?
Good idea 55%
Bad idea 37%
There's only one bit of bad news here for public option proponents:
What if changes to the health care system do not include the option of a government administered health insurance plan? In that case, would you favor or oppose changes under consideration?
Favor 38%
Oppose 40%
A very slim plurality would be against dropping the public option. Still, that leaves a lot of unclaimed territory and the answers to the other questions suggest these undecideds are leaning toward "oppose" on this question -- there's still 22% to play with.
All in all, looking at these numbers, you've got to wonder what the hell the holdup is here. 65% still support a public option. Wouldn't that be what you call yer "mandate?"
