Poll: Americans split on health care ruling

(CBS News) A new poll reveals that Americans are evenly split on the Supreme Court's health care decision -- and that, unsurprisingly, opinions are closely tied to political party.

The USA Today/Gallup poll found that 46 percent of respondents agree with the court's ruling that the law is Constitutional, while 46 percent disagree. Seventy-nine percent of Democrats back the high court's decision, while only 13 percent of Republicans do. Independents are divided, with 45 percent agreeing with the court and 42 percent disagreeing.

The poll also provides some insight into how important the issue of health care could be in November. Four out of five surveyed say health care will impact their vote, but only 21 percent say it will be the only factor. Fifty-nine percent say it will be one of several issues taken into consideration.

Gallup found that among the 21 percent of respondents for whom the health care law is the only factor, respondents are nearly twice as likely to disagree with the court's decision than agree with it, 59 percent to 36 percent.

Only 13 percent of respondents said they wanted the entire law to remain on the books as it was written. Twenty-one percent wanted parts of the law repealed. A quarter wanted the government's role in health care expanded beyond the health care law, and nearly a third wanted the entire law repealed.

The poll also found that 64 percent of Americans believe politics played a major role in the decision -- including 80 percent of Republicans. The finding comes despite conservative Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the four liberal justices to rule that the health care mandate is constitutional.