Support for Health Care Bill Hits New High

The patient is alive and kicking. A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds public support for President Obama's new health care law has risen to its highest point. The nation remains divided, with 45% in favor and 42% opposed to the president's signature domestic accomplishment, but the shift is significant—last month, supporters were outnumbered 39% to 46%. "I thought when people began to realize what was in the health care package that they would see it's a good, solid program," said one respondent.

Obama and his allies have been heavily touting the immediate benefits of the plan. "They are clearly making progress in convincing more Americans that this bill is the right way to go," said one Harvard public health professor. The poll found support rising among men (from 36% to 46%), people in their prime working years (from 35% to 49%), and even Republicans (from 8% to 17%), despite their party's call for the law's repeal.
(More health care reform stories.)