This post is the first part of our analysis of <a href=”http://blog.select2008.com/2008/02/29/select2008com%e2%80%99s-exclusive-look-at-voter%e2%80%99s-support-for-clinton%e2%80%99s-vs-obama%e2%80%99s-health-care-plans-ahead-of-texas-and-ohio-votes/”> voters' support for Clinton and Obama healthcare plans</a>. It reviews voters' support for universal health care as the <a href=http://select2008.com/vote_and_compare_for/obama_vs_clinton>Clinton vs. Obama face off</a> heats up in Ohio and Texas, according to the latest polls.

Only a slight majority of voters supports universal health care, which hints at a spirited debate as we move into the general election phase. Obama’s plan seems to provide a solid baseline to move towards universal health care, since a 2/3 majority supports a “partially” universal health care plan, which would still leave 15 million people uninsured.

To the contrary, support for universal health coverage for catastrophic health problems only seems much narrower than a broader universal health care plan. Interestingly, the electorate seems to expect the Federal government to be a key catalyst of universal healthcare, as voters dismiss the idea of curbing Federal government’s role in healthcare.

The analysis above reviews over 60,000 expressed opinion on healthcare on over 200 questions that run the whole gamut of health care proposals for the 2008 primaries and presidential elections. The most important and selective questions on Select2008 on universal health care are the following ones:

- <a href=”http://www.select2008.com/question/achieve_universal_healthcare_insurance_coverage_as_quickly_as_possible”> Achieve universal healthcare as quickly as possible </a> - 49% agree and 42% disagree out of 2,000+ votes in 2008 / 350+ votes last week;

- <a href=”http://www.select2008.com/question/universal_healthcare_for_32_million_uninsured”>Propose a universal healthcare plan that covers at least 32 million out of the 47 million uninsured U.S. residents </a> – 64% agree and 28% disagree out of 2,050+ votes in 2008 / 550+ votes last week;

- <a href=”http://www.select2008.com/question/provide_universal_healthcare_for_catastrophic_coverage_only”> Provide universal coverage for catastrophic healthcare issues only</a> – 44% agree and 40% disagree out of 1,450+ votes in 2008 / 350+ votes last week;

- <a href=”http://www.select2008.com/question/limit_the_federal_government%27_role_in_healthcare”>Limit the Federal government's role in healthcare and curb large entitlement programs </a> – 40% agree and 48% disagree out of 3800+ votes in 2008/ 850+ votes last week.