I've seen the Washington Post - ABC poll cited for the 90% support for "universal background checks." Yet, the question actually asked in the poll was:
"Would you support or oppose a law requiring background checks on people buying guns at gun shows?"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2...tion_10030.xml
Most people hearing that question will think of sales by vendors at the gun shows. Of course, they are already licensed dealers and run background checks. The term "sales" also means the poll didn't ask about the type of UBCs proposed. These included "transfers" of various type, even temporary transfers (letting a buddy shoot your gun). So, the poll numbers are meaningless and were used as a lie to build pressure and momentum for the Senate vote.