With GOP support for the safety net dropping, the gap between the parties over whether the government should take care of those who cannot care for themselves stands at 35 points
In a pre-election poll, there was a 43 percentage point gap between Obama voters saying that taxes should be raised on the wealthy and the number of Romney supporters who agreed.
Just as the White House and Congress faced a deadline for an agreement on raising the debt ceiling in 2011, they now must reach a deal to avoid a “fiscal cliff” before year-end. And, they have to do it against the backdrop of a public that’s divided on how to reduce the deficit.
About six-in-ten disagree with the idea that “we should make every possible effort to improve the position of blacks and other minorities, even if it means giving them preferential treatment.”
More than eight-in-ten Republicans (84%) say the nation should impose tighter restrictions on immigration, compared with about six-in-ten Democrats (58%). The gap is 26 percentage points.
A majority (54%) of Americans say they are more concerned that the U.S. will take too long to act in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program than are concerned it will act too quickly.