An independent national survey by Rasmussen Reports last week shows that Americans oppose the Obama contraceptive mandate. However, the vote is extremely  close and reflects a fundamental divide among Americans about the kind of nation we shall be.

When Americans were asked whether “health insurance companies should be required by law to cover all government-approved contraceptives for women, without co-payments or other charges to the patient”,  46% said No, 43% said Yes and 11% were “Not sure.” A much larger percent did say that the mandate would increase– not decrease — the cost of health insurance: 54% Increase, 16% Decrease, 21% No impact and 9% were Not sure.  When asked whether such coverage should be required if it violates the beliefs of a church or religious organization,  50% said the government should not require such coverage while 39% said the government should still require them to provide such coverage anyway and 10% were not sure. When asked whether individuals should have the right “to choose between different types of health insurance plans, including some that cost more and cover just about all medical procedures and some that cost less while covering only major medical procedures,  a decisive 77% said individuals should have that choice while only 9% said they shouldn’t and 14% were not sure. The poll was taken February 6-7  and has a 3% margin of error.

And how’s Obama doing himself in his re-election bid? Today’s poll results need to be a wake up call for Republicans and independents who are greatly concerned about where America is headed. At least for now, Obama leads every declared GOP candidate and the margin is now well beyond the margin of error. Santorum and Romney trail Obama by almost identical percentages while Obama presently leads Paul by a somewhat larger margin while Gingrich presently trails far behind them all.

The following results appear on the Real Clear Politics website today:

BOTTOM LINE: President Obama’s policies are deeply dividing America. A plurality of Americans don’t like either Obamacare in general or the mandate for abortifacients, contraceptives and sterilization designed as trampling over individual consciences and religious belief.

However even though these policies of the Administration are cynical, divisive and unpopular,  the President is winning, at least for now. Can this change? Definitely! Will this change? That depends on you and on me.