KHQ Right Now - News and Weather for Spokane and North Idaho | President Obama in Montana for Health Care Town Hall meeting

President Obama in Montana for Health Care Town Hall meeting

BOZEMAN, Mont. - President Barack Obama heads to Montana Friday for yet another town hall on health care reform and 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 and 21 percent say they are less so.

It appears President Obama may run into protesters like those who have disrupted town halls held by members of Congress in the big rally planned in the conservative suburb of Belgrade, outside Bozeman, Montana. Organizers say they expect up to 500 people.

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.

The Montana town hall will be held in an airport hangar in Belgrade. Obama is scheduled to focus on a provision of the health care plan that would prevent insurance companies from dropping or limiting coverage for those who become seriously ill.

The president will be accompanied by the first lady. They'll spend the night in Big Sky.