Forty-two percent (42%) of Pennsylvania voters favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. The latest Rasmussen Reports survey of voters in the state finds that 53% are opposed.

But the intensity is clearly with those who are opposed to the plan. Just 21% of Keystone State voters Strongly Favor the plan while 41% are Strongly Opposed.

This week, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has faced the anger directly in town hall meetings. The lack of support for the plan in Pennsylvania is similar to the response nationwide.

In Pennsylvania, 69% of Democrats favor the plan, but 83% of Republicans are opposed. As for those not affiliated with either major party, 39% like the plan while 59% do not. Only 14% of unaffiliateds Strongly Favor the plan while 46% are Strongly Opposed.

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The president gets better reviews in Pennsylvania than his health care plan. Fifty-one percent (51%) of the state’s voters approve of the way Obama is performing his job. Still, that’s down nine points since June. Nationally, the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows the president’s approval has been around the 50% mark in recent weeks.

Later today (Wednesday), Rasmussen Reports will release new polling data on the Democratic Primary race between Specter and Congressman Joe Sestak.

Tomorrow morning, data will be released on general election match-ups between the two Democratic contenders and Republican Pat Toomey.

Nationally, 49% say the protesters at congressional town hall meetings are genuinely expressing the views of their neighbors. Thirty-seven percent (37%) think they’ve been put up to it by special interest groups and lobbyists.

Other national polling shows that 51% of voters fear the federal government more than private insurance companies. But 41% fear the insurance companies more. Only 25% agree with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, though, that health insurers are "villains."

While Congress has debated reforms to the U.S. health care system, Americans have begun to show greater confidence in it. Forty-eight percent (48%) of adults now say the health care system is good or excellent, while just 19% say it’s poor.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of voters say tax cuts for the middle class are more important than new spending for health care reform, although the president’s top economic advisers have indicated that tax hikes may be necessary to fund the reform plan. That helps explain why 76% say it is likely that taxes will have to be raised on the middle class to cover the cost of health care reform, and 59% say it’s very likely.

Thirty-two percent (32%) favor a single-payer health care system where the federal government provides coverage for everyone, but 57% are opposed to a single-payer plan.

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