Massachusetts: Polls

A plurality of Massachusetts voters in a recent survey believe that Massachusetts' health care plan, which requires everyone to obtain insurance and provides subsidized health care for those who cannot afford it, would be good for the country.

The Rasmussen Reports poll, which was conducted on Dec. 9, found that 40 percent of 500 respondents believed the plan would be good for the rest of the country. Twenty-eight percent said it would be bad for the country, while 11 percent said it would have no impact and 20 percent said they were not sure.

Massachusetts' senior U.S. senator, Edward Kennedy, remains one of the most popular pols in the Bay State, according to a recent survey by Rasmussen Reports.

The poll, conducted of 500 likely Massachusetts voters on Dec. 9, showed that 65 percent have a favorable impression of Kennedy, a Hyannis Port Democrat. On the other hand, 33 percent have an unfavorable view.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney said Monday that GOP presidential nominee's John McCain's economic plan is helping him close the gap in pivotal states he must carry to win the presidency on Tuesday.

Speaking via satellite from Toledo, Ohio, on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Romney, a Belmont Republican and 2008 presidential contender, said recent Mason-Dixon polling shows McCain closing ground.

With just 11 days until the election, a recent Suffolk University/7News poll shows U.S. Sen. John Kerry with a substantial lead over Republican challenger Jeff Beatty.

Kerry, a Boston Democrat, leads Beatty 56 percent to 19 percent in the poll, which was conducted Monday through Wednesday this week.

Libertarian candidate Robert Underwood garnered 6 percent in the poll and 18 percent said they were undecided.

There was a 4.9 percent margin of error in the poll.