Public Flip-Flops, Now Likes Health Care Reform

The ink is barely dry on the new health care reform law, but the public has already come around on it, says a new USA Today/Gallup poll. Among those surveyed, 48% called the law “a good first step,” saying more should be done to reform the system. Roughly half said they were either “encouraged” or “pleased” by the bill’s passage, compared to only 40% who were “disappointed” or “angry.”

The results run counter to most recent polls, which have shown pluralities opposed to the bill. But Democrats shouldn’t celebrate too much. The public isn’t a big fan of how anyone handled the health care debate. President Obama scores best, with 46% saying his work was good or excellent, while only 32% said the same of congressional Democrats. Republicans fared worse; only 26% rated their work good or excellent. (More health care reform stories.)