December 6, 2012 - U.S. Voters Trust Obama, Dems To Avoid Fiscal Cliff, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Tax The Rich, But Don't Touch Medicare, Voters Say Word format American voters give President Barack Obama a 53 - 40 percent job approval rating - his best score in three years - and by a wider 53 - 36 percent they trust the president and Democrats more than Republicans to avoid the "Fiscal Cliff," according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Registered voters say 48 - 43 percent that President Obama and Congress will reach agreement on a plan to avoid tax increases and spending cuts set to go into effect at year's end, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. By a huge 67 - 23 percent margin, voters oppose eliminating the home mortgage interest deduction, but strongly favor, 62 - 28 percent, limiting the deduction to the first $500,000 of mortgage debt. By 56 - 35 percent, voters favor eliminating that deduction for second homes. Voters 65 - 31 percent support higher taxes on households making more than $250,000 per year, with 84 - 14 percent support from Democrats and 66 - 31 percent support from independent voters. Republicans are opposed 53 - 41 percent. "Nothing like winning an election to boost your job approval. President Barack Obama hasn't had a score this good since his 52 - 40 percent approval rating May 5, 2011, right after the death of Osama bin Laden," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "This is only the second time in more than three years that President Obama has broken 50 percent. And voters see Republicans as more likely to be obstructionist, and have less confidence in their ability to come up with the right solution to the nation's financial woes." American voters say 56 - 38 percent that Obama and congressional Democrats will make a good faith effort to cooperate with congressional Republicans on important issues. By 51 - 43 percent, voters say congressional Republicans will not act in good faith. Voters are optimistic 58 - 38 percent, however, about the next four years with Obama as president and believe 50 - 26 percent that the economy will get better in the next four years. If Obama and the Republicans drive the federal government over the Fiscal Cliff, voters say 47 - 23 percent that the automatic spending cuts and tax hikes that go into effect will be bad for the U.S. economy. By a larger 53 - 15 percent, voters say the Fiscal Cliff will be bad for their personal financial situation. Voter opinions on issues on the bargaining table: 47 - 40 percent support raising the tax on capital gains; 70 - 25 percent oppose cutting Medicaid spending; 51 - 44 percent oppose gradually raising the age for Medicare eligibility; 55 - 41 percent oppose cuts in military spending; 66 percent believe the best way to reduce the deficit is a combination of tax increases and spending cuts. "The 48 - 43 percent belief that President Obama and both parties in Congress can avoid the Fiscal Cliff is hardly a strong vote of confidence that the folks in Washington can avert the supposed financial catastrophe they all say they want to avoid," Brown said. Abolish the Electoral College in favor of direct popular vote for president, American voters say 60 - 29 percent. Republican, Democrats and independent voters all support the idea by wide margins. It's a bad idea to sign a no-tax pledge, voters say 85 - 10 percent, including 77 - 15 percent among Republicans. From November 28 - December 3, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,949 registered voters nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information or RSS feed, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 53% 8% 90% 51% 51% 55% 43% 94% 67% Disapprove 40 86 4 41 42 38 50 4 18 DK/NA 8 7 6 8 8 7 7 3 15 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Approve 51% 39% 33% 42% 41% 44% 22% 44% Disapprove 46 52 59 54 53 48 72 48 DK/NA 3 9 8 5 6 8 6 8 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Approve 57% 51% 57% 50% 49% 51% 58% 49% 49% Disapprove 39 40 33 45 47 44 33 44 46 DK/NA 4 9 10 5 4 4 9 7 5 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President? (*High also 59% Mar 2009) APPROVE....... High Low Dec 06 Jul 11 Apr 19 Feb 23 Nov 23 Jun 04 Oct 06 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2009* 2011 Approve 53 45 47 45 44 59 41 Disapprove 40 49 48 49 50 31 55 DK/NA 8 6 5 5 6 10 4 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 37% 7% 70% 30% 34% 41% 29% 72% 46% Disapprove 54 86 21 61 58 49 62 23 37 DK/NA 9 8 8 9 8 10 9 5 17 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Approve 34% 27% 23% 31% 26% 32% 16% 31% Disapprove 60 63 67 62 67 57 75 61 DK/NA 7 10 9 8 7 11 9 9 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Approve 38% 37% 44% 32% 32% 35% 43% 34% 32% Disapprove 54 53 47 61 61 61 47 59 57 DK/NA 8 10 9 7 7 4 10 7 11 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job? (*Low also 24% Sep 2011, Oct 2011) APPROVE....... High Low Dec 06 Jul 11 Apr 19 Feb 23 Nov 23 Mar 4 Nov 23 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2009 2011* Approve 37 29 27 26 24 45 24 Disapprove 54 62 63 67 69 45 69 DK/NA 9 8 10 7 7 10 7 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 23% 47% 8% 22% 22% 24% 25% 16% 29% Disapprove 69 43 86 71 71 67 68 80 58 DK/NA 8 10 6 7 7 9 8 5 14 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Approve 22% 25% 28% 30% 24% 25% 35% 24% Disapprove 74 65 62 66 70 65 54 69 DK/NA 4 10 10 4 6 10 11 7 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Approve 20% 24% 22% 26% 20% 23% 26% 21% 22% Disapprove 75 66 68 69 75 74 64 75 68 DK/NA 4 10 9 6 5 3 10 5 10 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job? (*High also 34% Mar 3, 2011 & Mar 2010) APPROVE....... High Low Dec 06 Jul 11 Apr 19 Feb 23 Nov 23 Mar 31 Nov 23 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011* 2011 Approve 23 24 23 22 19 34 19 Disapprove 69 68 66 71 74 55 74 DK/NA 8 8 11 6 7 11 7 4. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very satisfied 3% - 7% 2% 3% 3% 1% 8% 9% Smwht satisfied 32 7 54 30 30 34 27 61 39 Smwht dissatisfied 26 25 26 26 26 26 26 21 28 Very dissatisfied 38 67 12 41 39 36 46 8 22 DK/NA 1 - 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Very satisfied 1% 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 2% 1% Smwht satisfied 34 23 20 29 25 28 11 31 Smwht dissatisfied 25 26 24 26 25 26 25 26 Very dissatisfied 39 49 54 43 48 43 63 41 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Very satisfied 2% 4% 4% 2% 3% - 4% 3% 2% Smwht satisfied 38 30 34 31 30 31 37 30 27 Smwht dissatisfied 25 26 27 26 23 25 27 23 26 Very dissatisfied 34 39 34 40 44 43 30 43 43 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 2 TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? VERY+SMWHT SAT High Low Dec 06 Jul 11 Apr 20 Feb 23 Nov 23 Dec 11 Nov 13 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2001 2008 Very satisfied 3 4 3 4 2 21 2 Smwht satisfied 32 25 28 26 16 47 14 Smwht dissatisfied 26 29 29 28 31 19 38 Very dissatisfied 38 41 40 42 50 10 44 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 5. Are you generally optimistic or pessimistic about the next four years with Barack Obama as president? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Optimistic 58% 19% 91% 56% 53% 63% 49% 89% 77% Pessimistic 38 78 7 38 41 34 47 6 20 DK/NA 4 3 2 5 5 3 4 5 3 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Optimistic 54% 47% 39% 50% 44% 54% 30% 51% Pessimistic 44 48 56 48 52 43 68 45 DK/NA 2 5 5 2 5 3 2 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Optimistic 60% 58% 64% 56% 52% 54% 65% 54% 54% Pessimistic 37 38 31 42 45 46 32 42 41 DK/NA 2 4 5 2 3 - 4 3 5 6. For future presidential elections, would you support or oppose changing to a system in which the president is elected by direct popular vote, instead of by the electoral college? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 60% 67% 54% 61% 57% 62% 62% 43% 61% Oppose 29 22 36 28 33 26 27 41 31 DK/NA 11 10 10 11 9 13 11 16 9 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Support 55% 66% 64% 60% 60% 65% 65% 61% Oppose 34 23 24 30 31 23 25 29 DK/NA 11 11 11 10 10 12 10 11 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Support 54% 62% 60% 62% 58% 54% 58% 61% 61% Oppose 35 27 29 29 33 35 33 29 22 DK/NA 11 11 11 9 9 12 10 10 17 7. By the end of Barack Obama's second term in office, do you expect the economy to be better than it is today, worse than it is today, or about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Better 50% 12% 82% 46% 50% 49% 41% 82% 65% Worse 26 56 2 27 26 26 34 1 10 About the same 22 30 15 23 22 22 23 14 24 DK/NA 2 1 1 4 2 2 2 2 2 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Better 50% 37% 33% 40% 41% 41% 23% 43% Worse 27 37 41 34 34 34 54 30 About the same 22 23 24 24 23 22 21 25 DK/NA 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Better 56% 47% 52% 48% 47% 57% 55% 48% 43% Worse 23 27 23 29 30 27 20 30 30 About the same 20 23 23 23 22 17 23 20 23 DK/NA 1 3 3 - 1 - 1 2 4 8. Do you think - the Republicans in Congress will or will not make a good faith effort to cooperate with President Obama and the Democrats on issues that are important to you? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Will make effort 43% 60% 33% 41% 41% 44% 45% 31% 49% Will not make effort 51 33 62 52 53 49 48 65 47 DK/NA 7 7 5 7 6 8 8 4 4 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Will make effort 45% 44% 51% 51% 43% 46% 54% 48% Will not make effort 49 47 41 43 51 45 38 45 DK/NA 6 9 8 6 6 9 8 7 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Will make effort 43% 43% 41% 42% 45% 44% 46% 40% 42% Will not make effort 52 50 51 53 51 47 51 53 46 DK/NA 5 7 8 5 3 9 4 7 12 9. Do you think - President Obama and the Democrats in Congress will or will not make a good faith effort to cooperate with the Republicans on issues that are important to you? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Will make effort 56% 22% 86% 56% 52% 61% 48% 88% 74% Will not make effort 38 72 9 39 43 34 46 11 20 DK/NA 5 5 4 4 5 6 6 2 5 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Will make effort 53% 45% 40% 47% 43% 52% 30% 52% Will not make effort 41 48 55 47 51 42 64 44 DK/NA 5 7 5 6 6 6 6 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Will make effort 60% 55% 62% 53% 51% 44% 64% 53% 49% Will not make effort 35 39 32 43 45 49 32 41 43 DK/NA 5 6 6 4 4 7 4 6 8 10. As you may know, there is a debate in Washington right now over automatic spending cuts and tax increases that would take effect in January unless the President and Congress act. Who do you trust more to handle this issue President Obama and the Democrats in Congress or the Republicans in Congress? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Obama/Democrats 53% 7% 92% 51% 50% 56% 43% 91% 68% Reps in Congress 36 85 3 33 37 35 45 5 22 DK/NA 10 9 4 15 12 9 12 3 10 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Obama/Democrats 50% 40% 33% 42% 41% 46% 22% 46% Reps in Congress 41 47 55 49 46 44 67 43 DK/NA 9 13 12 9 13 10 11 11 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Obama/Democrats 58% 52% 58% 51% 48% 51% 60% 51% 47% Reps in Congress 34 37 31 40 43 45 31 39 41 DK/NA 9 11 11 9 9 4 9 11 12 11. If the automatic spending cuts and tax increases take effect, do you think that would be good for - the United States economy, bad for the United States economy, or don't you have an opinion on that? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Good 23% 14% 29% 21% 22% 23% 19% 31% 27% Bad 47 58 35 51 52 42 53 29 36 No opinion 26 23 32 24 23 29 23 37 33 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 3 6 5 3 4 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Good 18% 20% 19% 18% 19% 19% 18% 19% Bad 62 48 54 55 58 48 55 53 No opinion 17 26 22 21 19 27 22 23 DK/NA 4 6 6 6 4 6 6 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Good 21% 23% 24% 22% 18% 30% 25% 21% 18% Bad 57 42 39 53 64 57 42 53 44 No opinion 19 29 33 22 14 10 29 20 33 DK/NA 3 5 4 4 4 3 4 5 4 12. If the automatic spending cuts and tax increases take effect, do you think that would be good for - your personal financial situation, bad for your personal financial situation, or don't you have an opinion on that? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Good 15% 9% 21% 14% 14% 16% 12% 26% 18% Bad 53 67 39 55 55 50 59 30 43 No opinion 28 20 37 26 27 29 25 41 34 DK/NA 4 5 3 5 3 5 4 3 5 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Good 11% 12% 12% 12% 12% 12% 13% 11% Bad 66 55 59 59 61 57 62 57 No opinion 20 28 24 25 24 26 21 27 DK/NA 3 5 5 4 3 5 4 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Good 14% 15% 17% 15% 11% 11% 17% 14% 12% Bad 61 49 45 58 66 76 50 60 45 No opinion 22 31 34 22 20 13 30 22 37 DK/NA 3 5 4 4 4 1 3 4 6 13. Do you think President Obama and Republicans in Congress will reach an agreement to prevent automatic spending cuts and tax increases from going into effect before January 1st, or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 48% 39% 57% 47% 49% 47% 47% 56% 52% No 43 53 33 47 43 44 45 35 38 DK/NA 9 9 10 6 7 10 9 9 10 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Yes 52% 44% 46% 47% 48% 45% 41% 49% No 40 47 46 44 45 45 52 43 DK/NA 8 9 9 9 7 10 8 8 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Yes 54% 45% 47% 48% 53% 50% 46% 50% 48% No 38 46 42 47 42 44 46 43 39 DK/NA 8 9 11 5 5 6 8 7 13 14. Overall, what do you think is the best way to reduce the federal budget deficit, by cutting federal spending, by increasing taxes, or by a combination of both? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Cut spending 27% 52% 8% 27% 30% 25% 33% 7% 20% Increase taxes 3 1 5 2 2 3 2 4 2 Combination 66 43 84 67 64 68 61 83 74 DK/NA 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 6 5 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Cut spending 27% 35% 38% 31% 37% 29% 44% 31% Increase taxes 3 2 1 2 2 3 - 2 Combination 67 58 56 62 57 64 52 62 DK/NA 2 5 5 5 4 4 3 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Cut spending 24% 29% 27% 27% 28% 29% 27% 27% 28% Increase taxes 3 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 Combination 70 64 65 68 69 69 65 67 65 DK/NA 2 5 6 2 1 - 4 3 5 15. (If combination q14) Do you think there should be more spending cuts than tax increases, or more tax increases than spending cuts, or should there be about the same amount of spending cuts and tax increases? COMBINATION CUTS/TAXES Q14............ Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More spending cuts 29% 59% 17% 30% 31% 28% More tax increases 15 3 23 12 16 15 About the same 50 36 55 52 49 52 DK/NA 5 3 6 5 4 6 16. In order to reduce the federal budget deficit, do you support or oppose - raising income taxes on household income over $250,000 per year? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 65% 41% 84% 66% 63% 67% 63% 71% 70% Oppose 31 53 14 31 34 29 33 25 24 DK/NA 4 6 2 3 3 5 4 3 6 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Support 66% 61% 57% 60% 61% 65% 51% 63% Oppose 32 33 38 37 36 30 43 33 DK/NA 2 5 6 3 3 5 6 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Support 69% 63% 69% 67% 62% 54% 64% 67% 65% Oppose 29 32 27 31 37 42 33 31 27 DK/NA 2 5 4 3 1 4 3 2 8 17. In order to reduce the federal budget deficit, do you support or oppose - increasing the capital gains tax rate for money earned on investments? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 47% 23% 60% 51% 50% 43% 44% 56% 50% Oppose 40 61 26 39 40 40 43 32 31 DK/NA 13 16 14 10 10 16 12 12 20 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Support 53% 40% 37% 44% 48% 41% 27% 48% Oppose 40 45 48 47 44 43 59 41 DK/NA 6 15 15 10 9 16 15 11 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Support 54% 43% 45% 49% 52% 52% 50% 47% 38% Oppose 38 41 39 39 43 44 37 43 43 DK/NA 8 16 16 12 5 3 13 10 20 18. In order to reduce the federal budget deficit, do you support or oppose - cutting spending on Medicaid, which is the government health insurance program for low income people? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 25% 40% 9% 27% 28% 22% 29% 8% 21% Oppose 70 53 87 68 67 72 65 90 70 DK/NA 5 7 4 5 5 5 6 1 9 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Support 32% 27% 30% 30% 31% 26% 32% 29% Oppose 63 67 63 65 63 68 63 64 DK/NA 5 7 7 5 6 6 5 7 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Support 29% 23% 19% 27% 36% 36% 26% 24% 25% Oppose 66 71 75 68 59 59 70 71 66 DK/NA 5 6 6 4 5 4 4 4 9 19. In order to reduce the federal budget deficit, do you support or oppose - cutting military spending? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 41% 18% 52% 45% 46% 36% 40% 43% 43% Oppose 55 78 44 50 50 59 56 54 51 DK/NA 4 3 4 5 4 5 4 3 6 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Mltry Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No HsHld Support 57% 31% 30% 42% 47% 33% 22% 43% 36% Oppose 40 64 66 54 49 62 73 53 61 DK/NA 3 5 4 4 3 5 5 4 3 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Support 57% 34% 37% 42% 52% 53% 43% 42% 36% Oppose 40 61 58 54 46 46 53 55 57 DK/NA 4 5 5 4 2 1 4 3 7 20. In order to reduce the federal budget deficit, do you support or oppose - gradually raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 44% 47% 36% 49% 46% 42% 49% 26% 37% Oppose 51 48 58 47 49 52 46 73 50 DK/NA 5 5 6 4 5 5 5 1 13 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Support 60% 44% 49% 54% 50% 48% 46% 51% Oppose 36 51 47 42 45 46 49 44 DK/NA 3 6 4 4 4 5 4 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Support 55% 39% 36% 45% 59% 68% 41% 41% 55% Oppose 42 55 58 52 37 30 53 56 37 DK/NA 3 6 6 4 3 2 6 3 8 21. In order to reduce the federal budget deficit, do you support or oppose - eliminating the federal income tax deduction that people can claim on home mortgage interest? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 23% 25% 21% 23% 27% 20% 23% 28% 22% Oppose 67 65 70 69 65 69 67 66 63 DK/NA 10 11 9 8 7 12 10 6 15 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Support 23% 23% 23% 22% 26% 20% 25% 21% Oppose 71 65 66 67 66 68 63 70 DK/NA 6 12 11 10 8 12 12 9 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Support 22% 24% 27% 19% 20% 26% 25% 21% 23% Oppose 71 65 61 73 77 69 63 74 62 DK/NA 7 11 12 7 2 6 12 5 15 22. In order to reduce the federal budget deficit, do you support or oppose - limiting the federal income tax deduction that people can claim on home mortgage interest to only the interest on the first $500,000 of any mortgage? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 62% 56% 60% 68% 65% 59% 65% 55% 53% Oppose 28 32 30 23 28 28 25 36 31 DK/NA 10 12 10 9 8 13 10 9 16 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Support 72% 62% 61% 66% 69% 62% 59% 67% Oppose 21 26 27 26 24 25 25 26 DK/NA 7 12 12 8 7 13 15 7 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Support 68% 59% 59% 66% 73% 58% 60% 67% 57% Oppose 25 29 28 27 25 39 30 27 24 DK/NA 7 12 13 7 2 2 10 7 19 23. In order to reduce the federal budget deficit, do you support or oppose - eliminating the federal income tax deduction that people can claim on home mortgage interest for second homes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 56% 55% 55% 58% 59% 54% 58% 47% 54% Oppose 35 37 36 35 35 36 34 45 31 DK/NA 8 8 9 6 6 10 8 8 15 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Support 67% 53% 56% 60% 61% 56% 50% 61% Oppose 27 37 35 34 33 34 39 32 DK/NA 6 9 9 6 6 10 11 6 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Support 64% 52% 52% 59% 66% 66% 56% 60% 51% Oppose 29 38 38 35 30 31 34 36 37 DK/NA 6 9 10 6 3 3 10 4 12 24. Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea for a member of Congress to sign a pledge to an anti-tax group to never increase taxes on corporations or the wealthy under any circumstance? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Good idea 10% 15% 6% 8% 13% 7% 10% 10% 11% Bad idea 85 77 90 88 82 87 85 85 79 DK/NA 5 7 4 4 5 6 5 5 10 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Good idea 8% 11% 11% 11% 14% 6% 14% 8% Bad idea 89 84 83 84 82 88 78 88 DK/NA 3 6 6 5 5 5 8 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Good idea 7% 11% 11% 10% 8% 11% 11% 9% 8% Bad idea 90 82 85 86 90 87 83 87 84 DK/NA 3 6 5 4 2 1 6 3 8 25. If you had to choose, which would you prefer raising income tax rates for the wealthy or limiting the deductions the wealthy can claim on their federal income taxes? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Raise tax rates 39% 24% 58% 34% 40% 38% 33% 55% 56% Limit deductions 45 62 28 48 45 45 50 34 32 NEITHER (VOL) 4 5 1 5 5 3 4 1 4 BOTH (VOL) 7 2 8 10 6 8 7 7 4 DK/NA 5 6 5 4 4 6 6 3 5 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No Raise tax rates 31% 34% 29% 30% 32% 33% 27% 32% Limit deductions 54 48 55 49 50 50 59 49 NEITHER (VOL) 3 5 3 6 6 3 4 4 BOTH (VOL) 8 7 7 7 7 8 4 8 DK/NA 4 6 5 7 5 6 5 6 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME... AGE IN YRS....... Yes No <50K 50-100 100-250 >250K 18-44 45-64 65+ Raise tax rates 36% 40% 44% 37% 34% 34% 43% 35% 38% Limit deductions 48 44 41 49 51 49 44 49 38 NEITHER (VOL) 4 4 3 3 5 5 4 5 3 BOTH (VOL) 8 6 8 7 5 10 5 7 11 DK/NA 4 6 4 4 6 1 4 4 11 Demographic Summary
