57% are somewhat or very closely following discussions on raising the debt ceiling
47% want their congressman to vote against raising the debt ceiling
73% blame the budget deficit on spending too much on programs
48% believe we should reduce the deficit only or mostly with spending cuts; 11% believe it should be reduced only or mostly with tax increases
77% (equally split) believe Medicare and SSI costs are already causing or will cause a financial crisis within 10 years
64% worry about the deficit and federal spending "a great deal", and another 23% worry about it a "fair amount"
50% want the debt ceiling raised ONLY if there's an agreement on a deficit reduction plan in place (versus only 16% who would be willing to raise the ceiling without a plan)
And the coup 'd grace:
Next, how important is it to you that the president and Congress deal with each of the following issues in the next year -- is it -- extremely important, very important, moderately important, or not that important?
Federal Budget Deficit:
2011 Jan 7-9 44% 40% 12% 3% 2%
2007 Jan 5-7 42% 34% 19% 3% 1%
2004 Dec 17-19 35% 42% 18% 3% 2%
2003 Jan 3-5 32% 36% 25% 5% 2%
2002 May 28-29 25% 37% 28% 8% 2%
84% of those polled believe it's either EXTREMELY IMPORTANT or VERY IMPORTANT for congress and the president to deal with the federal budget defict...up from 62% in 2002.....
You go ahead and keep thinking it's only about who the Republicans put up as a candidate, though....
has a long way to go to be as big a fuck up as chimpy, and we Repubs don't really even have a candidate yet.
