If the price for defunding Obamacare is shutting down the government, a new CNBC poll shows, most Americans aren’t willing to pay it.
The CNBC All-America Economic survey of 800 people found that a vast majority of Americans oppose defunding Obamacare by a plurality of 44 to 38%. When you add on the issue of shutting down the government and defaulting, that number spikes even more: with that at stake, the poll found Americans oppose defunding–59% to 19%–with 18% still uncertain. The 4% of respondents remaining say they want to defund Obamacare, but then became unsure if they would maintain that position if the result would be a government shutdown.
On Friday, the GOP-led House of Representatives voted 230-189 to adopt a short-term government spending bill that would eliminate all funding for The Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature health care law. But this action could also lead the government to the brink of default in less than two weeks.
About 51% of Republicans support the move to defund the new health care law in general, with 36% against it and 13% unsure. However, those numbers flip when you add in talk of a fullblown shutdown or default: 48% actually oppose defunding Obamacare and only 36% still want it.
Opposition among Independents remains much more widespread. Among those surveyed, 44% to 40% oppose defunding it. There’s a drastic increase to 65% opposition when considering a government default, causing support to drop to 14%.
Not many surprises here: 54% of Republicans who identify themselves Tea Party supporters want Obamacare defunded no matter what – even it means shutting up shop.
The poll was conducted from September 16-19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4%.
Amy Porter