Poll: Is It Politically Smart for Republicans to Link Defunding Obamacare to Fall Budget Fights?

Michael Catalini, Alex Roarty and Peter Bell

How politically advantageous is it for Republicans to link defunding Obamacare to this fall's budget fight?

DEMOCRATS (89 VOTES)

Very advantageous: 3%
Somewhat advantageous: 23%
Somewhat disadvantageous: 44%
Very disadvantageous: 30%

Very advantageous

"When the administration decided to run from the implementation of a large part of its own bill, it made this 'linkage' inevitable."

Somewhat advantageous

"I think voters are getting Obamacare fatigue, even though a majority oppose it."

"Anything that obfuscates the truth regarding Obamacare plays to the GOP advantage."

"Plays well for their base, but everyone else tunes it out."

Somewhat disadvantageous

"Even Tom Coburn knows that it is a stupid idea. When he is the voice of reason, you know the GOP has gone off the deep end."

"R's are massively overplaying their hand on Obamacare, which someday will be popular. They go any further, and it's going to bite them."

"This is a bridge too far. Their obsession with Obamacare has started to appear as an irrelevant fight from the past and a symbol of their inability to step into today's debate."

"Will likely be viewed by non-Obamacare-haters as just another sign of the blame/shame game that accomplishes nothing in D.C."

"Helps get through a primary, fails with the general public."

Very disadvantageous

"Just last week the Republicans were complaining that Obama was not carrying out the law, when he delayed the employer mandate by one year. Doesn't defunding Obamacare amount to not carrying out the law? What planet do they live on?"

"House Republicans have once again demonstrated that they are more committed to settling old scores than moving the country forward."

"If Republicans want to give Democrats a chance at taking back the House, this is the way to do it."

"It's stupid. And apparently, not even possible, since the Obamacare spending isn't discretionary."

 

How politically advantageous is it for Republicans to link defunding Obamacare to this fall's budget fight?

REPUBLICANS (91 VOTES)

Very advantageous: 7%
Somewhat advantageous: 30%
Somewhat disadvantageous: 30%
Very disadvantageous: 33%

Very advantageous

"It still rallies the base."

Somewhat advantageous

"Make the Democrats defend Obamacare every step of the way."

"Anything the GOP can do to underscore the unintended consequences of Obamacare and express skepticism about big-government cure-alls is both accurate and where voters are."

"The party needs to make Obamacare a defining issue for the next two cycles."

Somewhat disadvantageous

"It is fun but not realistic, and we can only disappoint our base if we keep setting unattainable goals."

"What they gain on the right they lose in the middle."

"Any attempt to shut down the government to defund Obamacare will not turn out well for the GOP. Ask Newt Gingrich. The program is a disaster; let nature takes its course."

"Voters are unhappy with Obamacare, but they want a policy that works, not a partisan fight."

Very disadvantageous

"One of the dumber ideas to come down the pike in a long time, an ambush waiting to happen."

"They look like the gang that can't shoot straight."

"The American people will not support a government shutdown, period. They should pass a funding bill and let the sequester give them the leverage they need to keep pressure on spending."

"DISASTER."

"We're already winning the Obamacare argument. Only we could be this stupid."

"These showboating tea-party carnival barkers are going to destroy us."

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