Poll: Public Prefers Dem-only Bill With a Public Option

THE DESIRE FOR BIPARTISANSHIP IS NOT UNLIMITED.... There have been several national polls of late pointing, much to my chagrin, to strong public support for "bipartisan" health care reform. A New York Times/CBS News poll released in late September, for example, found that the public strongly disapproves of Republican efforts, but nevertheless wants Democrats to get GOP support before passing a bill.

The latest nonpartisan Research 2000 poll for Daily Kos, however, put a twist on the question and found an interesting result.

Which of the following scenarios do you prefer/ do you prefer?

Getting a health care bill with the choice of a strong public health insurance option to compete with private insurance plans that's supported only by Democrats in Congress, OR Getting a health care bill with no public option that has the support of Democrats and a handful of Republicans?

Public option: 52%

No public option: 39%