Democrat Jacky Rosen is in a position to take Republican Dean Heller's Nevada Senate seat. When she does, it's going to be because of Heller's attacks on health care.
New polling from PPP conducted this week for advocacy group Protect Our Care shows Rosen leading, within the margin of error, at 48 percent to Heller's 46. A big majority of Nevada voters—58 percent—say health care is a top issue for them this election, with 22 percent saying it is the most important issue. By a 23 point margin, voters say they want to keep what works about the Affordable Care Act and fix what doesn't, versus repeal it.
All this is bad news for Heller, as is his job approval, where he's underwater 52 to 40 percent. It gets worse for him when voters are asked about his refusal to support a resolution in the Senate opposing the Trump administration's lawsuit to overthrow protections for pre-existing conditions. Nevadans oppose the lawsuit 59 to 22 percent, and 42 percent say they're less likely to support Heller knowing that he doesn't oppose it.
When they find out about all of Heller's healthcare votes, they get more concerned: his vote for Trumpcare is a major concern for 49 percent (a minor concern for another 20); his own bill that would have allowed insurers to impose an age tax on older Nevadans is a major concern for 52 percent (again, 20 say it's a minor concern); and the Medicaid funding repeal included in his bill is a major problem for 51 percent of voters (19 percent say it's a minor concern). Nothing Heller has done on health care is popular in the state.
Which Jacky Rosen knows very well, and will make a focus in Friday night's debate.
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