More Americans say they will oppose Trump in 2020 elections due to his handling of healthcare, poll finds
Forty percent of respondents said Trump's handling of healthcare makes them more likely to oppose him for re-election.
The keystone issue of the 2018 midterms may stick around in 2020. By a 17-point margin, Americans say President Donald Trump's handling of healthcare makes them more likely to oppose than to support him for a second term, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll.
Specifically, 40 percent of respondents said Trump's handling of healthcare makes them more likely to oppose him for re-election, while 23 percent said it makes them more likely to support him.
What's more, a remarkable 75 percent of Americans and 85 percent of registered voters said they're planning to vote in the 2020 election.
POTENTIAL IMPACT
Voters in the 2018 midterms selected healthcare as the top issue in their vote by a wide margin over three others offered -- and those who picked it favored Democrats for Congress by a 75-23 percent split.
Trump's response to the salience of the issue is worth watching; he said April 1 that a GOP vote on a healthcare reform plan would be put off until after the election.
Other ongoing issues play into voters' feelings and perceptions as well. Based on his handling of immigration policy, 44 percent say they're more likely to oppose Trump for a second term, versus 31 percent more likely to support him, a 13-point net negative.
The Mueller report produces a 22-point net negative score for Trump: 36 percent say it makes them more likely to oppose him for re-election, vs. just 14 percent more likely to support him. As reported Friday, 58 percent think Trump lied to the public about the Mueller investigation.
THE TREND
A July 2018 Kaiser Family Foundation's Health Tracking Poll found that most Americans feel the Trump administration is sabotaging the Affordable Care Act -- to the country's detriment. The same contingent indicated they would make their distress felt at the polls in 2020.
A West Health Institute national poll conducted in September found just 23 percent of the public approves of how Trump is dealing with the high cost of prescription drugs.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
