Voters and health care in the 2004 election

Exit polls showed that health care was a second-tier issue in the 2004 presidential race and that it was more important to Democratic than Republican voters. Those who considered health care the most important issue in their voting decision voted over-whelmingly for John Kerry. An analysis of national opinion surveys and exit polls shows that Republican and Democratic voters expressed dramatically differing views on key health policy issues. With the exception of malpractice reform and reducing federal health spending, health care is not likely to be a top issue for the Bush administration's second term.