Republicans haven’t succeeded in convincing most voters they’re stronger on the healthcare issue although they have released their proposal for replacing Obamacare.
Forty-seven percent of respondents to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey said Democrats most closely represent their healthcare views, while 35 percent said Republicans best represent their views. Democrats also won out on which party voters trust more on a wide variety of healthcare issues, including lowering drug costs, reproductive decisions, Medicaid, and the Zika virus.
Voters trust presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on healthcare more than her opponent, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, by 46 percent to 32 percent. Independents also lean toward Clinton on healthcare issues, by 39 percent compared to 30 percent for Trump.
Yet voters remain sharply divided over President Obama’s healthcare law, as has been the case since Congress passed it in 2010. According to Kaiser’s monthly tracking poll, 46 percent of Americans have favorable opinions of the law compared to 40 percent with unfavorable opinions.
Last month, House Speaker Paul Ryan rolled out a policy paper outlining how Republicans would replace the Affordable Care Act next year should they get the opportunity. House Republicans had hammered the healthcare law for years, but leadership has only now rolled out a broad proposal to replace it.
But their efforts might not do much to shift voters this year. Respondents to the Kaiser survey said a candidate’s personal qualities and their stance on national security are the most important factors in their voting decision. Forty-six percent ranked personal qualities and terrorism/national security as “extremely important.”
Healthcare and other issues including gun control, education, the economy, and the budget deficit came in lower on the list, with about one-third of respondents saying those topics are extremely important in deciding for whom to vote. And just one-fourth of voters said immigration, foreign policy, and taxes are extremely important factors in their voting decision.
