Public opinion of the Affordable Care Act could prove to be a problem for President Obama. That's the takeaway from a new USA Today/Gallup poll released today.
While the measure enjoys popular support among Democrats, the poll shows support quite mixed among independents. It's also something that unites the fractured Republican electorate.
Here are the results from the USA Today/Gallup poll:
The USA Today article breaking down the poll's findings explains why these numbers should give the White House cause for concern:
The battleground states surveyed include Michigan - where Tuesday's primary has become a critical showdown between Romney and Santorum - as well as Ohio and Virginia, which vote next week on Super Tuesday. The other swing states are Colorado, Iowa, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Health care ranks near the top of a list of concerns for advocates and critics of the law. Nationwide, it trails only the economy and the deficit as being the most critical issues facing the nation, rating a bit higher than unemployment and terrorism.
Something particularly noteworthy in Gallup's findings could also explain, at least partially, why the Affordable Care Act is getting such lackluster poll numbers. A majority of Americans - even a majority of Democrats - think the bill's mandate requiring the purchase of health care is unconstitutional.
Again, the results from Gallup:
