Big majority backs public option

The Hill's Briefing Room blog included a story about an important poll that shows 60 percent of Americans, including 57 percent of independents and even 33 percent of Republicans, back the public option.

This is an important poll. It was conducted by Thompson Reuters, a highly reputable and nonpartisan media organization. It included a sample of 2,999 people, much larger than average, with a margin of error of only 1.8 percent, much smaller than average.

The poll also asked a series of questions about the healthcare bill, and Americans responded that the bill would make their lives better in various ways, saying so by around 20 percent, rounded off, each time.

In short, the percentage of respondents who favor the public option is more than three times larger than the percentage that believes the bill would substantially improve their healthcare situation. The percentage of Republicans who support the public option is higher than the percentage of the nation as a whole, on four key questions, that believes the bill will make healthcare better.

For Democratic leaders and members of the House or Senate to eliminate or destroy the public option, which has such huge support, on a bill that has such modest support, would be an act of supreme policy and political stupidity.