From: Katherine Patterson, Public Policy Polling
To: Interested Parties
Subject: Health Care a Key Issue for North Carolinians; Voters Trust Cunningham Over Tillis to Protect Their Health Care
Date: October 27, 2020
A new Public Policy Polling survey finds North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis trailing Democratic opponent Cal Cunningham by 3 points (47-44). Health care is a key issue for a large majority of North Carolinians, with 73% considering it either the most important issue or a very important issue—and voters do not trust Tillis to protect them when it comes to health care coverage. Just 29% of voters who consider healthcare to be a key issue support Tillis, while 61% support Cunningham. Tillis’ record on health care could cause him to lose further ground to Cunningham.
- 46% of voters trust Cunningham more to protect healthcare for people with pre-existing conditions, while just 38% trust Tillis more.
- 45% trust Cunningham more on the overall issue of healthcare, while only 40% trust Tillis.
- 44% trust Cunningham more to hold health insurance and pharmaceutical companies accountable, while just 36% trust Tillis more.
Meanwhile, a majority (58%) of North Carolina voters disapprove of the Trump administration’s attempt to strike down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the middle of a pandemic without any replacement. Just 33% think it should be struck down.
When voters hear that Tillis voted four times to repeal the ACA, a majority (51%) say they are less likely to support him in the election, while just 28% say they are more likely.
Additionally, voters express serious concerns over the consequences of striking down the ACA.
- 67% say that eliminating protections stopping insurance companies from denying coverage or raising the costs of care for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions is a major concern.
- 67% say they have major concerns about over twenty million Americans completely losing their health insurance coverage if the ACA is struck down.
- 61% say that allowing insurance companies to stop covering the cost of prescription drugs is a major concern.
Public Policy Polling surveyed 937 North Carolina voters from October 26-27, 2020. The margin of error is +/- 3.2%. 50% of interviews for the survey were conducted by telephone and 50% by text message.