This comprehensive new poll is the first undertaken by Pew Research working with USA Today.
It finds that, as with previous conflicts over the debt ceiling and fiscal cliff, Obama holds the upper hand politically over congressional Republicans. If there is no deficit deal by March 1, 49% say congressional Republicans would be more to blame while just 31% would mostly blame President Obama. ...Pew/USA
Some highlights:
By a wide margin (71% to 26%), the public favors increasing the minimum wage from its current level of $7.25 per hour to $9.00 an hour. But while large majorities of Democrats (87%) and independents (68%) favor raising the minimum wage, Republicans are evenly divided (50% favor, 47% oppose).
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Americans remain divided over whether it is more important to control gun ownership (50%) or protect the right of Americans to own guns (46%), with no significant change in attitudes in the two months since shortly after the Newtown shootings. Similarly, there has been no change in public views about banning high capacity clips (53% favor), banning assault weapons (56% favor), or broader background checks (83% favor)
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The toughest issues lately have been guns and the budget. Obama has the biggest wins in the immigration and climate change issues. But now he also walks away with gun policies and the budget deficit.
I wonder if these results -- along with the results from Bloomberg, are shaking up congressional Republicans this morning.
Republicans will just have to deal with public opinion being shape by the Obama campaign media. Do the right thing and you'll sleep we'll.
Posted by: Danny | February 21, 2013 at 11:46 AM