Poll: 54 percent would back a public option

With the U.S. House expected to begin debate soon on health care legislation, most North Carolinians think some form of reform is needed, according to a new poll released Monday morning.

Three out of four Tar Heel residents think the health care system needs reform, according to the Elon University Poll.

But North Carolinians are divided about what type of changes are needed. The survey found that 54 percent would support health insurance legislation that would include a public option and that 51 percent would use a public option if it became available.

State residents were even more divided on a national insurance plan in which the federal government pays most of the medical and hospital costs for all citizens, with 47 percent favoring and 47 percent opposing it.

The poll was conducted Oct. 26-29 and surveyed 703 North Carolina residents. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

Perdue spokesman leaving

David Kochman is resigning his post as communications director for Gov. Bev Perdue.

Kochman has not set a departure date but said he's working with the communications team to ensure a smooth transition. He said he is exploring a couple of opportunities outside the governor's office.

"It's been an honor to help elect and work with Gov. Perdue," Kochman told Dome. "I know she'll continue doing great things for the state."

Kochman's departure comes as Perdue's approval ratings have been tanking. The most recent Elon University Poll found Perdue had a 37 percent approval rating, while other surveys put that figure in the 20s.

Perdue recently hired Pearse Edwards, a North Carolina native who worked for Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire as senior adviser for communications and policy.

While Perdue was lieutenant governor, the job of her communications director had a high rate of turnover - five people held the job in the first six years.

Created or saved?

A report Monday from the U.S. Department of Education shows North Carolina saved or created 22,398 government jobs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The state legislature has used nearly three-fourths of the $1.2 billion grant it received from the federal government to plug the state budget holes for budgets this year and next year. The rest has yet to be spent.

As a result, the state says it has saved or created 8,916 jobs for teachers, principals, counselors, transportation workers and custodians.

An additional 1,461 jobs were created or saved in lower-income Title I schools, along with 1,670 jobs created or saved in special education.

Most of the jobs saved, 10,343, were in government services. Those included jobs in prison custody; food service; medical, education and administrative staff; probation and parole officers; and substance abuse counselors.

Burr leads Marshall

Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is ahead of Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, one of his potential Democratic opponents, by 10 points, according to a poll by the Civitas Institute.

Among those surveyed, 43.7 percent backed Burr, while 33 percent picked Marshall.

The poll, released Friday, surveyed 600 voters by live interviews on Oct.20 and 21 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Latest Comment View all comments