Politics

Poll: Is It Politically Smart for Republicans to Link Defunding Obamacare to Fall Budget Fights?

By Michael Catalini, Alex Roarty, Peter Bell, and National Journal

How politically advantageous is it for Republicans to link defunding Obamacare to this fall's budget fight?

DEMOCRATS (89 VOTES)

Very advantageous: 3%
Somewhat advantageous: 23%
Somewhat disadvantageous: 44%
Very disadvantageous: 30%

Very advantageous

"When the administration decided to run from the implementation of a large part of its own bill, it made this 'linkage' inevitable."

Somewhat advantageous

"I think voters are getting Obamacare fatigue, even though a majority oppose it."

"Anything that obfuscates the truth regarding Obamacare plays to the GOP advantage."

"Plays well for their base, but everyone else tunes it out."

Somewhat disadvantageous

"Even Tom Coburn knows that it is a stupid idea. When he is the voice of reason, you know the GOP has gone off the deep end."

"R's are massively overplaying their hand on Obamacare, which someday will be popular. They go any further, and it's going to bite them."

"This is a bridge too far. Their obsession with Obamacare has started to appear as an irrelevant fight from the past and a symbol of their inability to step into today's debate."

"Will likely be viewed by non-Obamacare-haters as just another sign of the blame/shame game that accomplishes nothing in D.C."

"Helps get through a primary, fails with the general public."

Very disadvantageous

"Just last week the Republicans were complaining that Obama was not carrying out the law, when he delayed the employer mandate by one year. Doesn't defunding Obamacare amount to not carrying out the law? What planet do they live on?"

"House Republicans have once again demonstrated that they are more committed to settling old scores than moving the country forward."

"If Republicans want to give Democrats a chance at taking back the House, this is the way to do it."

"It's stupid. And apparently, not even possible, since the Obamacare spending isn't discretionary."

How politically advantageous is it for Republicans to link defunding Obamacare to this fall's budget fight?

REPUBLICANS (91 VOTES)

Very advantageous: 7%
Somewhat advantageous: 30%
Somewhat disadvantageous: 30%
Very disadvantageous: 33%

Very advantageous

"It still rallies the base."

Somewhat advantageous

"Make the Democrats defend Obamacare every step of the way."

"Anything the GOP can do to underscore the unintended consequences of Obamacare and express skepticism about big-government cure-alls is both accurate and where voters are."

"The party needs to make Obamacare a defining issue for the next two cycles."

Somewhat disadvantageous

"It is fun but not realistic, and we can only disappoint our base if we keep setting unattainable goals."

"What they gain on the right they lose in the middle."

"Any attempt to shut down the government to defund Obamacare will not turn out well for the GOP. Ask Newt Gingrich. The program is a disaster; let nature takes its course."

"Voters are unhappy with Obamacare, but they want a policy that works, not a partisan fight."

Very disadvantageous

"One of the dumber ideas to come down the pike in a long time, an ambush waiting to happen."

"They look like the gang that can't shoot straight."

"The American people will not support a government shutdown, period. They should pass a funding bill and let the sequester give them the leverage they need to keep pressure on spending."

"DISASTER."

"We're already winning the Obamacare argument. Only we could be this stupid."

"These showboating tea-party carnival barkers are going to destroy us."

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, John Anzalone, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Matt Bennett, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bosh, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Guy Cecil, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Larry Cohen, Jerry Crawford, Brendan Daly, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Pat Dujakovich, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Jeffrey Forbes, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Doug Hattaway, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Lisa Kountoupes, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bob Maloney, Jim Manley, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Steve McMahon, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Michael Meehan, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Michael Monroe, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Jefrey Pollock, Jack Quinn, Larry Rasky, Mame Reiley, Ed Rendell, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, Ryan Rudominer, John Ryan, Michael Sargeant, Stephanie Schriock, Terry Shumaker, Sean Sinclair, Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Greg Speed, Darry Sragow, Ken Strasma, Doug Thornell, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Rick Wiener, James Williams, JoDee Winterhof, Brian Wolff, Jon Youngdahl, and Jim Zogby.

GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Brian Baker, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Paul Bennecke, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Al Cardenas, Danny Carroll, Alex Castellanos, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Jonathan Collegio, Rob Collins, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Jay Cranford, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Tom Davis, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Debi Durham, Sara Fagen, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Mindy Finn, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Bruce A. Gates, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, David Girard-diCarlo, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Ed Ingle, Jim Innocenzi, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris LaCivita, Jim Lake, Steven Law, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Lisa Camooso Miller, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Kevin O'Neill, Connie Partoyan, Billy Piper, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Tom Reynolds, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Ken Spain, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Terry Sullivan, David Tamasi, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Lezlee Westine, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, Fred Wszolek, and Matthew Zablud.

How politically advantageous is it for Republicans to link defunding Obamacare to this fall's budget fight?

DEMOCRATS (89 VOTES)

Very advantageous: 3%
Somewhat advantageous: 23%
Somewhat disadvantageous: 44%
Very disadvantageous: 30%

Very advantageous

"When the administration decided to run from the implementation of a large part of its own bill, it made this 'linkage' inevitable."

Somewhat advantageous

"I think voters are getting Obamacare fatigue, even though a majority oppose it."

"Anything that obfuscates the truth regarding Obamacare plays to the GOP advantage."

"Plays well for their base, but everyone else tunes it out."

Somewhat disadvantageous

"Even Tom Coburn knows that it is a stupid idea. When he is the voice of reason, you know the GOP has gone off the deep end."

"R's are massively overplaying their hand on Obamacare, which someday will be popular. They go any further, and it's going to bite them."

"This is a bridge too far. Their obsession with Obamacare has started to appear as an irrelevant fight from the past and a symbol of their inability to step into today's debate."

"Will likely be viewed by non-Obamacare-haters as just another sign of the blame/shame game that accomplishes nothing in D.C."

"Helps get through a primary, fails with the general public."

Very disadvantageous

"Just last week the Republicans were complaining that Obama was not carrying out the law, when he delayed the employer mandate by one year. Doesn't defunding Obamacare amount to not carrying out the law? What planet do they live on?"

"House Republicans have once again demonstrated that they are more committed to settling old scores than moving the country forward."

"If Republicans want to give Democrats a chance at taking back the House, this is the way to do it."

"It's stupid. And apparently, not even possible, since the Obamacare spending isn't discretionary."

How politically advantageous is it for Republicans to link defunding Obamacare to this fall's budget fight?

REPUBLICANS (91 VOTES)

Very advantageous: 7%
Somewhat advantageous: 30%
Somewhat disadvantageous: 30%
Very disadvantageous: 33%

Very advantageous

"It still rallies the base."

Somewhat advantageous

"Make the Democrats defend Obamacare every step of the way."

"Anything the GOP can do to underscore the unintended consequences of Obamacare and express skepticism about big-government cure-alls is both accurate and where voters are."

"The party needs to make Obamacare a defining issue for the next two cycles."

Somewhat disadvantageous

"It is fun but not realistic, and we can only disappoint our base if we keep setting unattainable goals."

"What they gain on the right they lose in the middle."

"Any attempt to shut down the government to defund Obamacare will not turn out well for the GOP. Ask Newt Gingrich. The program is a disaster; let nature takes its course."

"Voters are unhappy with Obamacare, but they want a policy that works, not a partisan fight."

Very disadvantageous

"One of the dumber ideas to come down the pike in a long time, an ambush waiting to happen."

"They look like the gang that can't shoot straight."

"The American people will not support a government shutdown, period. They should pass a funding bill and let the sequester give them the leverage they need to keep pressure on spending."

"DISASTER."

"We're already winning the Obamacare argument. Only we could be this stupid."

"These showboating tea-party carnival barkers are going to destroy us."

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, John Anzalone, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Matt Bennett, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bosh, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Guy Cecil, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Larry Cohen, Jerry Crawford, Brendan Daly, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Pat Dujakovich, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Jeffrey Forbes, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Doug Hattaway, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Lisa Kountoupes, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bob Maloney, Jim Manley, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Steve McMahon, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Michael Meehan, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Michael Monroe, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Jefrey Pollock, Jack Quinn, Larry Rasky, Mame Reiley, Ed Rendell, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, Ryan Rudominer, John Ryan, Michael Sargeant, Stephanie Schriock, Terry Shumaker, Sean Sinclair, Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Greg Speed, Darry Sragow, Ken Strasma, Doug Thornell, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Rick Wiener, James Williams, JoDee Winterhof, Brian Wolff, Jon Youngdahl, and Jim Zogby.

GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Brian Baker, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Paul Bennecke, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Al Cardenas, Danny Carroll, Alex Castellanos, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Jonathan Collegio, Rob Collins, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Jay Cranford, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Tom Davis, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Debi Durham, Sara Fagen, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Mindy Finn, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Bruce A. Gates, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, David Girard-diCarlo, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Ed Ingle, Jim Innocenzi, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris LaCivita, Jim Lake, Steven Law, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Lisa Camooso Miller, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Kevin O'Neill, Connie Partoyan, Billy Piper, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Tom Reynolds, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Ken Spain, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Terry Sullivan, David Tamasi, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Lezlee Westine, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, Fred Wszolek, and Matthew Zablud.