Poll Tracker

To pay for public health coverage through tax increases, 64 percent favored raising the cigarette tax, 64 percent favor a tax increase on the rich, and 61 percent would support higher taxes on liquor.

More than half of the respondents, 53 percent, said they were opposed to taxing health benefits paid by employers. And the poll was almost evenly divided over whether people who smoked or were overweight should be charged higher health insurance premiums. Forty-seven percent favored higher premiums, and 49 percent were opposed.

The poll said 56 percent of respondents still think it is important, versus 39 percent who say the country can't afford to deal with health care overhaul now. A month ago, that was 61 percent in favor of changing the health care system and 35 percent opposed.

The poll was based on telephone interviews with 1,205 adults nationwide and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.