The poll data is clear and cuts across party lines: 92 percent of the public does not think it is right that Congress and their staff are letting the Obama administration exempt them from the costs of Obamacare. Yet it seems many in Congress still want to dismiss these findings in hopes that these sentiments won’t translate into actual voter preferences.

Incumbents facing reelections shouldn’t fool themselves. A recent real-world deployment of the issue shows it can powerfully impact candidates’ prospects.