Washington , DC – Today Americans for Health Care, a project of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), released a poll which reveals that 82% of primary voters agree that “everyone has a right to quality, affordable health care coverage.” This includes 92% of Democratic primary voters and, remarkably, 72% of Republican primary voters. The poll was conducted by Lake Research Partners of likely primary and caucus voters in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada.

Democratic and Republican voters overwhelmingly agree that we need fundamental, not piecemeal reform of the health care system. There is also extremely strong bi-partisan support for shared responsibility in reaching the goal of quality, affordable health care coverage for everyone. Ninety percent of Democratic voters and 77% of Republican voters agree that “businesses, government, and individuals all have a responsibility to help pay for health care.”

“What we found in this poll confirms something that we’ve known for a while: voters consistently place health care among their top issues,” said Andy Stern, President of SEIU. “And rising health care costs are continuing to hit workers where it hurts.”

A majority (55%) of primary voters say that health care will be the most important or one of the most important issues in making their voting decision. But a majority of voters agree that they haven’t heard enough about health care.

“It’s still early and there is clearly room for candidates to establish themselves on this issue because primary voters haven’t heard enough about health care. Voters will hear more at the presidential forum on health care this Saturday in Las Vegas. And our members are going to continue asking both Democrats and Republicans about this issue on the campaign trail.”

At this point in the campaign, Democratic voters say Hillary Clinton would be the best president on health care, followed by John Edwards and Barack Obama. Among Republican voters, Rudy Giuliani is rated the highest on health care, narrowly ahead of John McCain and Mitt Romney. But half of Republican voters can’t name a Republican candidate talking the most about a plan for health care.

For more poll results, including data for each state, go to www.ImAHealthCareVoter.org .