Sharp split on health care repeal

Americans are deeply divided over whether a Republican president should repeal President Barack Obama's health care law if elected this November, a new poll Monday shows, although the vast majority of those surveyed believe the individual mandate is unconstitutional.

Gallup found that 47 percent of Americans want a GOP president to repeal the law, while 44 percent oppose that.

However, 72 percent of Americans believe the individual mandate in the health care reform package is unconstitutional, while 20 percent believe it is constitutional.

Along party lines, a majority of Democrats - 56 percent - believe the health care mandate is unconstitutional and 37 percent defend it as constitutional. Among Republicans, 94 percent view that part of the law as unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, a USA Today/Gallup poll of swing states shows that a majority of crucial swing state voters oppose the law. In fact, 53 percent of swing state voters see the health care reforms as a “bad thing,” while 38 percent see it as a “good thing.”

There is sharp partisan divide over support for the health care law - 87 percent of Republicans favor repeal of the health care overhaul, while 77 percent of Democrats oppose it.

Further, Republicans have more strongly held opinions on repeal - 56 percent “strongly favor” repeal while only 39 percent of Democrats “strongly oppose.” Independents are split over the issue - 43 percent favor repeal, while 47 percent oppose it.

The Gallup poll was taken Feb. 20 to Feb. 21 with a sample of 1,040 adults and a sampling margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points. The USA Today/Gallup poll of swing states was taken Feb. 14 to Feb. 21, with a sample of 1,137 registered voters and a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points. More health news here: Health website