Poll: Kentucky likes its health exchange, but don’t call it ‘ObamaCare’

A new poll shows most Kentuckians oppose ObamaCare, even while a plurality support their own state’s insurance exchange, which was established by the healthcare law.

An NBC News/Marist poll released Monday found 57 percent of registered voters have an unfavorable opinion of ObamaCare, versus 33 percent who hold a favorable view.

{mosads}But when asked for their views on ‘Kynect,’ the state exchange created because of President Obama’s healthcare law, 29 percent held a favorable opinion, with 22 percent opposed. Twenty-one percent didn’t have an opinion, and 27 percent said they had not heard about it.

The poll highlights the difficulty Democrats could have defending the healthcare law in the run-up to November’s midterm elections. Democrats have said that the law’s low polling numbers would rise once the public began enjoying ObamaCare’s benefits. But so far, despite signing up 8 million people, polls still show the health law’s brand unpopular.

But the numbers could also signal trouble for Republicans, with Kentucky seen by the administration as an ObamaCare success story, where Gov. Steve Beshear (D) also opted to expand Medicaid under the law.

Kentucky is home to one of 2014’s marquee races, with Democrats hoping to unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who is facing a challenge from the Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D).