Town Hall Flare Up
By: Import User
Updated: August 14, 2009
President Obama heads west today on a health care reform rescue mission.
After a week of town hall flare-ups, one poll shows his effort is in trouble.
Thirty-four percent of Americans tell USA today, they are now more sympathetic to protesters. 21 percent say less so.
Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich wants more town halls.
Protesters claim the President is pushing everything from abortion to euthanasia in his reform plan.
"One of the reasons we've pushed back is because of those misconceptions," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
Starting today, a coalition of reform allies raises the stakes in a new ad.
The ad is paid for by drug makers and the biggest doctor and hospital groups in the country. They are teaming up with a major union to back the President.
The campaign is a counterpunch to critics at town halls, getting saturation coverage during Congress' break.
