Wednesday, December 15, 2010

NBC/WSJ poll: Nearly 60% approve of tax deal

With the Senate's final approval of President Obama's compromise tax deal -- and with the House expected to take up the measure tomorrow -- nearly 60 percent approve of its major components, according to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll.

When respondents were told that the agreement would extend the Bush-era tax cuts -- for all income levels, including the wealthy -- for two years in exchange for a one-year extension of unemployment benefits and a temporary reduction of payroll taxes, 59 percent say they approve the deal and 36 disapprove.

What's more, 61 percent believe the agreement was a fair compromise for both President Obama and Republican leaders, while 23 percent think Obama gave up too much and 10 percent say Republicans gave up too much.

Yet the poll also shows that Democrats and liberals are slightly more opposed to the deal than their counterparts are -- but not significantly.

In the poll, Democrats approve the deal by a 54-to-41 percent margin, and liberals by 57-41 percent.

That's compared with 68-29 percent among Republicans; 60-35 percent among conservatives; 60-36 percent among independents; and 62-34 percent among moderates.

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