Poll: Plurality say GOP should not push to repeal any part of healthcare reform

A plurality of Americans said they would prefer Republicans to leave the new healthcare law alone and not repeal any parts of it, a new poll found Tuesday.

Given the option to name the sections of the healthcare law they would most like to see the GOP repeal, 42 percent said they would leave the bill alone and repeal no parts, a new "60 Minutes"/Vanity Fair poll found.

But if there is one section voters would like to see stricken from the healthcare law, it seems to be the individual mandate — the requirement that all Americans buy health insurance, or face stiff penalties.

Thirty percent of Americans said they would like to see Republicans get rid of the individual mandate, by far the provision in the healthcare law that voters would most like to see removed, if they favor any kind of repeal at all.

President Barack Obama signed reform into law in March after months of battle in Congress. No Republicans voted for the final version of the legislation in the House and Senate.

In the months since that bill became law, top Republicans like House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) have called repealing healthcare reform the GOP's "No. 1 priority," though Republicans have battled internally over whether they should repeal it in full or in part.

Democrats, for their part, sense political opportunity in threats to repeal their signature legislative accomplishment, and will stress during this week's congressional recess the consequences of repealing part or all of the law.

There are other elements of the bill that people, the poll found, would like to see gone. Eight percent would like to see repealed the requirement that insurers cover individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, 8 percent would also want repealed the ability of young adults to stay on their parents' insurance plans until age 26, and 2 percent want to get rid of expanded prescription drug coverage under the bill.

The monthly poll, conducted by CBS in conjunction with Vanity Fair, sampled 855 adults by telephone between May 6-9. It has a three percent margin of error.