Why Isn't Obamacare An Issue In The 2014 Election ?

The top chart shows the results of a new Rasmussen Poll (taken on September 27th and 28th of a random national sample of 1,000 likely voters, with a margin of error of 3 points). The chart shows a majority (52%) of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). And those with an unfavorable opinion have a 10 point advantage over those with a favorable opinion.

This brings up a question. After trying to repeal Obamacare around 50 times in the last few years, why aren't Republicans trying to take advantage of that unfavorable view in this election? Why have they been strangely silent about Obamacare since most of the primaries ended, and the general election campaign started?

The answer is that the poll asked the wrong question. A significant portion of those with an unfavorable view of Obamacare (like me) are unhappy because they don't think the changes made by Obamacare went far enough -- and these people don't agree with the Republicans that Obamacare should be repealed. These people want Obamacare to be fixed so it covers everyone, brings down medical costs, and takes the profit margin out of health insurance. In short, most of them want a single-payer health insurance system.

The Rasmussen Poll asked the right question just a month ago in a survey done on August 30th and 31st of a random national sample of 1,000 likely voters (with a margin of error of 3 points). The results of that poll are displayed in the chart below. Note that only 36% of voters agree with the Republicans and want Obamacare to be repealed, while 59% do NOT want Obamacare repealed.

This is why the Republicans have been so silent about Obamacare in this campaign. They know that a significant majority of voters do not agree with them about Obamacare, and trying to make it a campaign issue will just cost more votes than it gathers.