A Research 2000 poll due out this afternoon finds one third of Democrats threatening to stay home and not vote in 2010 electoral contests if a public option isn't included in health care reform. Greg Sargent, reporting on an advance copy of the poll, notes the poll includes this question:
If Congress does not pass a public option as part of health care reform, will that make you more likely or less likely to vote in the 2010 general election, or no effect?
A third, 33%, of the Democrats responded it would make them less likely, while only 7% replied they would be more inclined to vote in 2010. Sargent reports 60% indicated the absence of a public plan would have no influence.
When polling independents, the results were surprisingly similar to the Democrats response. A little over one fifth, 21%, indicated they would be less inclined, 13% would be more inclined and 66% responded the lack of a public option would have no influence on their voting in 2010.
I understand why Democrats and some Independents would be dispirited. I'm dispirited. This whole health care debate has been offensive. A very small group of conservative Democratic Party senators now have the health care bill by the balls and the monumental efforts to appease their gigantic egos will, likely, result a bill that's way short of reform.
But come on. What do those 33% of Democrats and 21% of Independents think will happen when they stay home in 2010? This isn't tough math - there's only two parties and when a big chunk of Democratic voters decide to sit out 2010 it significantly favors the political party that has already gone on record that they intend to rescind health care reform if they win a majority in Congress.
I imagine Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman, Blanche Lincoln - all the conservative Democrats are tickled pink at the news those pesky public option supporters would choose to sit 2010 out and not vote. They might be a bit more accommodating if that 33% had indicated instead they were motivated to find some new Democratic senators.
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