four months ahead of the presidential election, the u.s. supreme court on thursday upheld the crucial part of president barack obama's signature health care overhaul in a widely anticipated ruling, putting an end to months of speculations over one of the hottest issues on the campaign trail.

washington, june 29 (xinhua)-- americans are sharply divided over thursday's supreme court decision to uphold the core of obama administration's health care legislation, according to a gallup poll released on friday.

the latest poll found 46 percent of americans agreed and 46 percent disagreed with the high court's ruling. the public's views tracked the partisan line, with democrats widely hailing the ruling, most republicans panning it, and independents divided.

four months ahead of the presidential election, the u.s. supreme court on thursday upheld the crucial part of president barack obama's signature health care overhaul in a widely anticipated ruling, putting an end to months of speculations over one of the hottest issues on the campaign trail.

when asked what they want u.s. congress to do following the ruling, 31 percent of americans say they want to repeal the law entirely and 21 percent would like to keep the law in place but repeal parts of it. a quarter of americans swing in the other direction, saying they would like congress to pass legislation to expand the government's role in health care beyond what the current law does.

the health care plan is a hot issue and a news focus in the presidential election campaign now getting underway, with coverage exploding thursday following the court's decision. however, analysts said whether the ruling will be a game-changer in the 2012 presidential campaign still remains a question.

the gallup poll showed that 6 percent say health care is the top problem in june, behind mentions of the economy, jobs, the deficit, and problems in government.

eighty percent of americans take candidates' views on health care reform into account to at least some degree when voting for major political offices this fall, including 21 percent who say they will vote only for a candidate who shares their views on health care reform.

the affordable care act has been viewed as obama's chief yet most controversial domestic accomplishment. the supreme court decided the overhaul, including its "individual mandate" that virtually requires most americans to buy health insurance, is constitutional. republicans in congress have vowed to seek a complete repeal of the legislation.

polls have shown that as a whole the affordable care act still remains unpopular with the public, little changed from two years ago.