SurveyUSA did NBC/WSJ’s work for them after they failed to poll people on what Obama’s health care plan actually said.

Contrary to the tepid support the biased NBC/WSJ poll found, SurveyUSA, when they polled with the original question NBC/WSJ used – a question that asked folks whether they want a choice of a public health insurance option as the legislation on the table provides – they found overwhelming support.

Here was the question NBC/WSJ asked in June, when they found 76% supported:

In any health care proposal, how important do you feel it is to give people a choice of both a public plan administered by the federal government and a private plan for their health insurance–extremely important, quite important, not that important, or not at all important?

SurveyUSA asked that same question yesterday, with as close to the same sample population as possible, and they found 77% support, with the number of people feeling this element of health reform is "extremely important" rising to 58%.

The conclusion here is pretty clear. When you ask people if they support the President’s plan – a choice of a public health insurance option – they support it. When you leave out that critical element of choice, an element that accurately reflects the President’s plan, there is less support. Choice isn’t a biased word, as Chuck Todd contends. It’s an accurate reflection of the policy, and people like it.

Maybe that’s why NBC/WSJ changed their tune completely yesterday and will use this accurate poll question in their next poll.

(also posted at the NOW! blog)

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