New Poll: 62% of Likely Voters Oppose Raising Debt Ceiling

An overwhelming 62 percent of likely voters oppose raising the debt ceiling, while only 27 percent favor raising it, a new poll by The Hill reveals.

Opposition is strongest amongst Republicans and independents, but even more Democrats oppose the measure than support it:

Seventy-seven percent of likely GOP voters and 64 percent of independent voters said they don’t want the debt ceiling to be raised. Even among Democrats, more oppose raising the ceiling (46 percent) than support it (42 percent).

The poll also shows that a majority of the country disaproves of the president's stimulus package:

Only 36 percent of voters surveyed said stimulus spending creates jobs, while 48 percent said flatly that it does not. Crucially, 61 percent of independent voters took that negative view.

Only 40 percent of likely voters say the $787 billion stimulus package helped. While 69 percent of Democrats say it boosted growth, 56 percent of independents think the stimulus hurt or had no impact on the economy.

The president’s budget, due Feb. 14, will call for more spending on infrastructure, research and development and education. The polls suggest the public is unreceptive to the idea, so Obama might find it tough to get these budget requests through a Republican House clamoring for deep cuts.

The president is also losing critical independent voters regarding his economic policies in general:

Voters split on Obama’s economic policies. Forty-four percent in the survey said the policies are hurting the economy, while 41 percent said they are helping. The poll’s margin of error is 3 percent.

By a 47-37 percent margin, independents said Obama has hindered the economic recovery.

Raising or lowering the debt ceiling has prominent conservatives split. Some, such as Glenn Beck, say not raising it would be detrimental to the United States and its credit. Others, such as Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), oppose raising it on fiscal responsibility grounds, saying that doing so would be an excuse for more irresponsible government spending.