This is your typically tilted question. The idea of a “choice” is referenced – again, Republicans would hotly dispute this. In this specific wording, respondents are asked how they feel about “(giving) people a choice,” forcing opponents of the public option to play the part of Ebenezer Scrooge. Unsurprisingly, this wording produces some good results for public option advocates. Another potential factor driving these results: opponents of the public option might not have a category to register their opposition here. Can they say “not at all important?” Perhaps, but does that accurately reflect their views? A lot of opponents of the public option think it is quite an important issue.

Here’s the second version of the public option question, asked of subsample B…