So much for the theory that support for health-care legislation grows when the issue fades from the headlines.

In the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll, the public splits, 48 percent in support, 49 percent in opposition to health-care reforms being pushed by Congress and the Obama administration. Only 30 percent strongly support; 39 percent strongly oppose.

More:

52 percent say an altered system would probably make their own care more expensive, and 56 percent see the overall cost of health care in the country going up as a result.
Few see clear benefits in exchange for higher expenses. Rather, there has been a small but significant increase in the number (now 37 percent) who anticipate their care deteriorating under a revamped system, putting that number in line with opinion in July 1994, just before President Bill Clinton’s health-care reform efforts fizzled.
Among those with insurance, three times as many continue to see worse rather than better coverage options ahead (39 to 13 percent), and fewer than half of those who lack insurance see better options under a changed system. Six in 10 see it as “very” or “somewhat” likely that many private insurers would be forced out of business by a government-sponsored insurance plan, a potential result that GOP leaders frequently warn about.

The Post says the good news for Democrats in the poll is that “while Americans overall are divided on reform legislation, the Democrats have made some progress among at least one key group. Support among senior citizens, while still broadly negative, is up 13 points since September to 44 percent.”

Actually, I think the better news for Democrats is that they’ll force through terrible legislation if it’s polling around 50–50; they’ll flinch if it’s around 45–55.