Taking one for the team

A deal to send more Medicaid money to his state helped Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., decide in favor of casting a crucial vote in support of health reform legislation pushed by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. But it didn't help his standing with home-state voters, according to a new poll.

Nebraska's likely voters are showing their gratitude for their state's Medicaid deal with dismal support for Nelson in a recent Rasmussen poll.

According to the poll, voters favor potential 2012 Republican Senate candidate Gov. Dave Henieman over Nelson 61 percent to 30 percent.

Says the polling company: "Nelson's health care vote is clearly dragging his numbers down. Just 17% of Nebraska voters approve of the deal their senator made on Medicaid in exchange for his vote in support of the plan. Overall, 64% oppose the health care legislation, including 53% who are Strongly Opposed."

The legislation cleared the senate 60-39, with no Republicans voting in favor. It now needs to be reconciled with a version from the House of Representatives.

Rasumuusen continues: "The House and Senate have passed different versions of the health care legislation and now will try to agree on a plan to pass early in 2010. Because every Democratic vote is required to pass the legislation in the Senate, Nelson’s vote is essential. If Nelson votes to block final passage of the health care plan, he would still trail Heineman but would be in a much more competitive situation.

When survey respondents were asked how they would vote if Nelson blocks health care reform, 47% still pick Heneman while 37% would vote to keep the incumbent in office. Twenty percent (20%) of those who initially said they’d vote for Heineman say they’d switch to supporting Nelson. Another six percent (6%) of Heineman supporters say they’re not sure what they’d do if Nelson stops the health care plan from becoming law."