Jonathan Parker is national director of Service Employees International Union's Americans for Health Care project. Karen M. White is political director of EMILY’s List .
It’s only December, but for strategists, pollsters and other political types, the 2006 midterm elections are right around the corner. If Democrats want to win more seats, they’re going to have to tap into issues that resonate with the public’s moral compass…And it turns out that health care might be one of the strongest.
A joint national survey, commissioned by EMILY’s List and Americans For Health Care and conducted by Lake Research Partners, reveals that health care is an extremely powerful issue for women voters–and will play a critical role in the 2006 elections. The poll provides some important insights into targeting the critical sector of women voters—particularly independent women. As an increasing number of elections turn on the narrowest margins of swing voters, independent women and swing women voters have the potential to serve as the determining factor in 2006. If the Democratic Party targets these groups appropriately, these women in the middle will tip the balance of power in Congress.
Independent and swing women voters are a critical segment of the electorate whose power can be harnessed to get Democrats back in control of Congress. A poll conducted by EMILY’s List in June 2005 found that one-third of the women who voted for Bush are not planning to vote Republican in the upcoming congressional elections. Women in the ideological middle are leaving the Republican Party and are available to Democrats. Women will be a determinant in the 2006 elections because many independent women and swing women voters remain undecided until they are sold on the issues that matter to them. The critical next step, then, was to find out how to reach these women—to understand which issues make a significant impact on the way they vote. The purpose of the AHC/EMILY’s List poll was to determine how health care ranked among the issues important to women voters.
The poll shows very clearly that health care is going to play a major role in the 2006 elections, and that concern for health care is strong enough among independent and swing women voters to garner votes for Democrats (or Republicans, if Democrats don’t act on this concern). While conventional wisdom views health care as purely an economic issue, our survey discovered that, for women, health care is about much more than their pocketbooks. It’s a moral issue. For moderate women, whether they be independent or undecided, access to affordable health care is a family value. Ninety percent of women feel it is morally wrong that millions of American children do not have access to affordable health care; 86 percent of women agree that real family values mean making sure families have affordable health care and jobs that pay well enough to allow time at home with children. Clearly, addressing women’s deep concerns about skyrocketing health care costs is not only a winning issue, but also a strong values platform.
At a time when more and more Americans are left with inadequate health care or no health care at all, our poll also shows that voters are in a mood for change overall—and particularly on health care. Women are extremely dissatisfied with both President Bush’s and Congress’ inadequate action on health care. Sixty-eight percent of women rate the president as just fair or poor; 80 percent of women rate Congress as fair or poor on health care.
Increasingly, voters are anxious for government action to address the ever-escalating health care crisis. Eighty-four percent of women believe that government should guarantee that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care. Across the board, we see similar and overwhelming support for a government role in providing health care, including from 82 percent of men, 79 percent of independent women, and 76 percent of women who lean Republican. A strong majority—66 percent—of women also favor expanding access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans even if it means raising taxes . That’s right. Most American women value expanded health care over a tax cut. Are both sides of the aisle listening?
Health care can be a winning issue for Democratic candidates, and the survey shows it could be a particularly powerful boost for female Democratic candidates. By a two-to-one margin, women think that the Democratic Party would do a better job than the Republicans on health care —47 percent vs. 25 percent. However, Democratic candidates can’t just assume they’ll get the health care vote. They need to address voters’ concerns about the issue.
We know from talking to health care voters and women voters across the country that health care must be a priority for any candidate running for office in 2006 or 2008. In order to gain voters’ confidence, candidates must have a plan to address the health care crisis in this country. The American people are tired of lip service —they want action. Now, it’s simply a question of who’s going to step up and provide it.
