Strong Interest in Health Care, Little Interest in Palin

The debate over health care reform dominated the public's news interests last week, even as other stories - including the furor over new mammogram guidelines and Sarah Palin's book tour - vied for the news media's attention. Fully 41% cite the health care debate as their most closely followed story of the week, far more than the percentage citing any other story. Nearly one-in-five (18%) name reports about swine flu as their top story, while somewhat fewer (11% each) cite the new mammogram guidelines and the debate over sending more U.S. forces to Afghanistan. Just 4% say that President Obama's trip to Asia was their top story and even fewer - 2% of the public - cite news about Sarah Palin and her new book.