LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Issue Priorities? – Health Care – Keep Electoral College?

Your Daily Polling Update for Thursday, December 3, 2020

TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 45%

RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on five polls. The range is 37% (Reuters) to 50% (The Hill, Rasmussen). Without these extremes, it would be 43%…. President Trump’s disapproval rating averages 54% today…. When looking at our job rating averages, keep in mind that Trump received 46.9% of the popular vote in the last election and Biden received 51.3%, based on the latest count. 
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ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Among voters nationwide

Voter views on the Electoral College:

• 45% want to amend the Constitution so the national popular vote winner gets elected president
• 38% want to keep electing presidents via the Electoral College

RON’S COMMENT: Since the election, the percentage of Democrats who want to amend the Constitution so that the popular vote winner is elected president fell 9 points compared to before the election (from 70% to 61%). The percentage of Republicans who want to keep the Electoral College fell 11 points (from 65% to 54%) since the election.

ISSUE PRIORITIES FOR BIDEN
Among voters nationwide

To what extent do you think each of the following should be a priority for President-elect Joe Biden, if at all, during his first 100 days as President?
 
Passing a new coronavirus aid package 
A top priority: 67%
An important, but lower priority: 16%
Total: 83%
 
Installing an effective distribution plan for a COVID-19 vaccine 
A top priority: 67%
An important, but lower priority: 14%
Total: 81%
 
Reducing the federal budget deficit 
A top priority: 30%
An important, but lower priority: 37%
Total: 67%
 
Passing an infrastructure spending bill 
A top priority: 26%
An important, but lower priority: 40%
Total: 66%
 
Passing a healthcare reform bill 
A top priority: 42%
An important, but lower priority: 22%
Total: 64%
 
Passing a bill to reduce economic inequality 
A top priority: 30%
An important, but lower priority: 31%
Total: 61%
 
Passing a bill to address climate change 
A top priority: 32%
An important, but lower priority: 27%
Total: 59%
 
Passing legislation placing additional restrictions on gun ownership 
A top priority: 23%
An important, but lower priority: 26%
Total: 49%
 
RON’S COMMENT: Top issues by party–– 

• 91% of Democrats and 78% of Republicans say passing a new coronavirus aid package is a priority
• 92% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans say installing an effective distribution plan for a COVID-19 vaccine 
• 79% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans say passing an infrastructure spending bill
• 70% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans say reducing the federal budget deficit

HEALTH CARE PRIORITIES
Among U.S. adults nationwide

% of U.S. adults who say the following should be a top priority for President-elect Biden and Congress:

• Manage the pandemic: 73%
• Protect coverage for pre-existing conditions: 60%
• Lower prescription drug costs: 52%
• Improve Affordable Care Act: 46%
• End surprise medical billing: 45%
• Improve health disparities: 43%
• Promote Medicaid expansion: 39%
• Implement a public health insurance option: 39%
• Fight opioid crisis: 34% 

RON’S COMMENT: Looking at the top two priorities––60% of Republicans and 84% of Democrats say manage the pandemic. And, 50% of Republicans and 68% of Democrats say protect coverage for pre-existing conditions.

SOURCES
Presidential job rating average based on recent nationwide polls.
Presidential job rating average based on recent nationwide polls.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE: Morning Consult, Nov. 13-16
ISSUE PRIORITIES FOR BIDEN: Morning Consult, Nov. 13-16
HEALTH CARE PRIORITIES: Morning Consult, Nov. 13-16

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