Poll: Ben Nelson in trouble over healthcare reform

[babylonsister]

Yes, I know, rasmussen, but still...:nopity:

http://www.salon.com/news/ben_nelson/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2009/12/29/nelson_poll

Poll: Nelson in trouble over healthcare reform
A new survey shows that the Nebraska senator could pay a heavy price for his support of the legislation
By Alex Koppelman


Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., isn't up for reelection until 2012. And it's a good thing for him, too. A new Rasmussen poll shows him almost 30 percentage points behind one potential Republican challenger, Gov. Dave Heineman.

The survey shows 61 percent of respondents going for Heineman in a hypothetical matchup; by comparison, only 30 percent said they'd vote for Nelson.

Rasmussen attributes Nelson's precarious position to his reluctant support for his fellow Democrats' healthcare reform legislation.

"Just 17% of Nebraska voters approve of the deal their senator made on Medicaid in exchange for his vote in support of the plan. Overall, 64% oppose the health care legislation, including 53% who are Strongly Opposed," the polling firm says.

It also appears Nelson would get at least a small boost if he shifted positions on the issue -- if he votes to block reform, the number of respondents who say they'd vote for Heineman drops to 47 percent, with 20 percent of those supporters now going to Nelson, who'd be at 37 percent.

It's not all bad news for Nelson, though: 2012 is a long way off, and there's still plenty of time for public opinion in Nebraska to swing away from the GOP. Plus, in three years, reform legislation is likely to be less of a front-burner issue.

[defendandprotect]

1. I guess Dems aren't going to put up a liberal?

[MadBadger]

2. That really wouldnt do anything in a state like Nebraska

[defendandprotect]

9. Read this quickly and thought Nebraska was unhappy with the

health care DEFORM . . .

I see they just didn't want any health care change --

Too bad -- someone needs to wake up these people --

[Peacetrain]

11. I live next to Nebraska.. It is pretty conservative outside of Omaha

[DeSwiss]

3. Yeah, but he can always be used.....

...for fertilizer.

- K&R

[Ed76638]

4. I would vote against Nelson

no matter who's the opponent.

[RoadRage]

7. You'll have the opportunity..

to vote for Heineman.. or someone even more Conservative in '12. Evidently that's "better"??? :eyes:

[Ed76638]

8. Oh hell yes.

These 60 votes ain't shit.

Against the public option?

Against repealing Anti-trust exemptions?

The motherfucker is probably against financial reform given that banks are headquartered in his state.

He's dead weight along with 3 other senators. He's doing us more harm than good.

[RoadRage]

12. K.. so 59 votes with NO change on anything is better then 60 with comprimise?

Got it. You're no different the the far right purists.. you just have different ideals. I consider the Palin lovers idiots.. and those on the far left are the same IMO. This world isn't built around 1 ideology.. it's about meeting in the middle.. like it or not, comprimise is always going to happen. But enjoy the purist minority where you get absolutely nothing... the Republicans are loving that up right now.

[Ed76638]

14. This isn't about purity.

as much as it is about a handful of senators who are just plain rotten. Holding up the process so that you get everything you want?

Fuck that.

Purge those grandstanding bitches.

[LiberalAndProud]

15. Do you live here?

Because I'm pretty sure you'd change your mind in a hurry if you did.

I am no defender of Ben Nelson. I've had posts deleted in times when the expectation of support for Democratic pols was more stringently enforced. But the truth is, the alternatives would scare you. Dave Heineman is no friend. But you don't live here, so why would I try to convince you?

[Ed76638]

16. I have the lesser weasel Nelson to deal with.

If Ben Nelson was my senator, yes I would definitely vote him out by any means necessary.

[RoadRage]

17. Exactly...

It's easy to hate Nelson from afar... but then again, you have to live in NE to understand the likes of Terry, Johans, Heineman, etc...

The fact that we have a Dem ANYTHING (aside from Mayor in Omaha) is shocking... people can't understand that. Farmers don't like democrats.. and the 97% white religious bible thumpers in this state don't either. I still can't believe District 2 voted for Obama last year.. amazing.

Nelson is as Blue as this state is going to go.. and I do think this healthcare vote may cost him his job in '12 - but I think he might already know that.

[LiberalAndProud]

21. Either vote would have put his job in jeopardy.

He can't be elected without Democratic support, and I'm not the only one in my family that let him know that opposing health care reform would cost him a Democrat's vote.

And we have a Democratic mayor in Lincoln too. (yay)

[Blue_In_AK]

5. We had people up here whining

because Mark Begich didn't hold out for more. They wanted him to trade his vote for drilling in ANWR. :rofl: They're suffering Ted Stevens pork withdrawal.

[RoadRage]

6. I'm from NE.. and Nelson is done.

Dave Heineman is the current (REPUBLICAN) Govenor, and he's loved in this state.

Nelson was frankly an annomily.. this state is so red, it's crazy. The only reason Nelson kept his seat is because he walked to close to the blue line. Healthcare reform is detested by about 65% of this state.. and the fact that Nelson voted for it (finally) anyway will probably cost him his job. He knew that when he finally pulled the lever, so I'm assuming he is ready to move on to a new career.. and I was frankly pretty surprised he did it.

I know you all hate this guy here on DU, but frankly he just sacrificed his job to get this reform passed through. Everyone here just thinks it's so easy to get rid of the Blue Dogs.. well guess what? You're going to see that happen in '12... there will be one less (conservative) Democrat, and one more VERY Conservative Republican in the Senate.

I wish that people here would realize that not every state has the same thought process as California.. and in the middle of the country there are a lot of conservative peeps who don't always see things the way people do here on DU. Me personally.. yes, I do - but I also understand the overall situation, and I realize that a Nelson is better then 2 Mike Johanns. Party Purity might sound nice in theory.. but in reality it just gives the other side the majority.

[louis c]

10. I agree and understand

The difference between a Republican majority or a Democratic majority lies in the middle.

for instance, the Republicans now have no congressmen in New England. That's 0 for 22. they purged their middle, and have nothing to show for it.

Sure, it's easy to hold 40 Senators when you only have 2 moderates (coincidently form Maine) but it's difficult to win in the middle.

If you have idealogical purity the Senate will be 50-50 again. You'll see.

[TheKentuckian]

13. The claims of a demand for ideological purity are a reach

Purity and expecting people to support the party platform and procedural votes are very different things.

Counting on the likes of Nelson means you can only produce lipservice legislation. Our problems are too large for 1% efforts, we can't just ignore pressing issues to avoid rocking the boats of a bunch of ignorant, simplistic, out of date yokels.

I also say fuck him anyway. If you're taking one for the team then do it but don't gut every effort and then still lose the seat.

[RoadRage]

18. By getting the Medicare Tax Break he's trying to save his seat..

He's hoping the large group of fiscal conservatives will at least appreciate that.. the problem is that the Republicans are still pounding him on it.. and there are wayyyy to many pro-lifers in this state to let him "get away with" not pushing harder on the anti-abortion measures. He's always run as a pro-life Dem.. and that's what has kept his seat so far... but it's gonna be tough in '12. Hopefully people will forget in '12, and enough Dem's will show up at the polls to keep Obama in office that they'll vote for Nelson again too. The only other choice is a far right republican.. Nelson is by far the best choice we'll get in this state.. sorry to say.

[w4rma]

19. He helped turn the bill into a subsidy for the insurance industry. Of course they're pissed.

LIEberman's poll numbers dropped like a rock, too.

[lonestarnot]

20. Nebraska sucks ass about as bad as Arizona.