Posted by
Always To The Right on Friday, January 30, 2009 3:59:15 PM
The bad news from Rasmussen? More people support the Obama stimulus
package than oppose it. The good news? The gap between them is less
than the margin of error, down from 11 points last week. In a new Rasmussen poll, the Porkfest Formerly Known As Stimulus only gets 42% support, while 39% oppose it
Rasmussen has only started polling on this, so that’s the extent of
their trending. The nine-point drop in the gap over a one-week period
shows that the electorate has gotten more skeptical about massive
government spending. Republicans have done a good job of getting their
message out, and they have succeeded especially among independents. A
week ago, independents had a virtual dead heat on the bill, 37%-36% in
favor. Now independents oppose it 50%-27%. Democrats really are on
their own with this bill.
Republicans also appear to have made gains by offering their tax-cut
alternatives. That approach gets a plurality for support, 43%-39%, and
a stronger plurality among independents, 48%-33%.
Democrats rattled some sabers yesterday by threatening to withdraw
the tax cuts after getting no Republican votes. According to
Rasmussen, a plan with only government spending gets the worst response
of all. Overall, voters oppose that idea 70%-15%, and it flops in
every demographic Rasmussen tracks. Even Democratic voter oppose it by
a solid majority, 57%-23%, as do self-described liberals, 54%-29%.
The Democrats are on thin ice with this package. It’s not exactly
unpopular, but it’s starting to get there. They need Republicans badly
in the Senate, but will they start negotiating and begin to trim off
the excessive spending to get them on board? The House Democrats
wouldn’t do it, and it will be interesting to see whether Harry Reid
will want to bargain or to give a demonstration of power. The Gang of 14 effort being spearheaded by Ben Nelson
might help, but Republicans need to hold firm and insist that all
non-immediate and non-stimulus spending get stripped — which would
probably make this a $120 billion bill rather than the $900 billion
version sitting in the Senate.