More Bad News For Kaine As ObamaCare Approval Hits An All-Time Low

As liberal former DNC Chairman Tim Kaine struggles to defend his support of ObamaCare, this month’s Kaiser Family Foundation health tracking poll shows that both Kaine and President Obama have even greater reason to fear Virginia voters at the polls next year: their 2,700 page, $2.5 trillion health care law is less popular than ever.

The poll’s summary and toplines show a bleak picture for Kaine, Obama, and their fellow Washington Democrats:

• Overall favorability of the law stands at 34%, an all-time low;
• The percentage of very favorable support stands at 12%, an all-time low;
• The percentage of respondents who think they personally will be better off due to the law stands at a mere 18%, an all-time low;
• The percentage of respondents who think the country as a whole will be better off due to the law stands at 28%, an all-time low;
• Approval of the law among Democrats dropped by 13% in the last month to only 52%, an all-time low.

Notably, as Obama’s hand-picked DNC Chairman, Kaine insisted that when “people immediately see the benefits that are going to come their way [from ObamaCare], I think this is going to be a great thing politically for the Dems.  And we’re trying to show members that they’ve got their constituents behind them if they vote with the president.”  He even boasted, “I would love to be running on this.”

“As approval for ObamaCare hits an all-time low, Virginians will remember that Tim Kaine was the law’s number-one cheerleader,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond today.  “When will Kaine finally acknowledge the reality that he and Obama’s health care debacle is so unpopular because of its onerous mandates, harmful results to Virginia’s patients and doctors, and tremendous cost to Virginia taxpayers?” 

The U.S. Senate Finance and U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committees released a joint report earlier this year, estimating that ObamaCare’s Medicaid spending mandates alone will cost states at least $118 billion through the first decade of full implementation (through 2013).  Specifically, the report reveals that ObamaCare’s new mandates will cost Virginia $2.2 billion through 2022. 

Background Information: 

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine On ObamaCare: “[T]his Is Going To Be Great For Democrats. You Know, I’ve Been On A Ballot Seven Times And Won Seven Races. I Would Love To Be Running On This. And I Think The Extreme Nature Of The Rhetoric Just Shows How Worried The Other Guys Are.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 3/21/10)

On Health Care, Kaine Said When The American People “Immediately See The Benefits,” Then Health Care Would Be “A Great Thing Politically For The Dems.” AMANPOUR: “You mentioned health care. I want to say something that you, yourself, said about this issue when it comes to elections.” KAINE: “OK, great.” (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KAINE: “When make this happen, and people immediately see the benefits that are going to come their way, I think this is going to be a great thing politically for the Dems. And we’re trying to show members that they’ve got their constituents behind them if they vote with the president.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 10/24/10)

Kaine: “But The Work That The President Has Done To Take Health Insurance Reform Farther Than Any American President Has Been Inspiring, But We Have More Work To Do. . . . We Have Interest Groups And The Special Interests And Others Out There Fighting Change, And Often Resorting To Very Extreme Measures To Fight Change: Misinformation, Rudeness, Bizarre Tactics, Shouting.” (“Remarks By DNC Chair Governor Tim Kaine At The Organizing For America Forum,” Federal News Service, 8/20/09)