Poll: Majority wants 'supercommittee' to compromise

A majority of Americans want members on the so-called "supercommittee" to compromise on a plan to make $1.5 trillion in deficit cuts, a new poll found on Wednesday.

As part of the legislation to raise the debt limit that President Obama and congressional leaders agreed to earlier this month, a 12-person joint, bicameral committee of legislators is charged with finding the $1.5 trillion in addition to the $1 trillion in deficit cuts over 10 years already included in the deal. According to the Gallup poll, 60 percent of Americans want the committee to compromise rather than "hold out" for a plan that's preferable to either Republicans or Democrats. Thirty-five percent would rather wait for a more appealing deal to either GOPers or Democrats.

Interestingly, more Democrats than Republicans would rather see a compromise. The poll found that 67 percent of Democrats want to see a compromise, while 29 want legislators to hold out for a deal Democrats would like. By comparison, Gallup found that 55 percent of Republicans want to see a compromise and 42 percent want to hold out.

During the debate on increasing the debt ceiling, Obama and Democrats involved in the negotiations received criticism from the left for being too ready to concede ground on Democratic sticking points like tax hikes or no cuts to entitlement programs. 

Democrats have already said everything should be on the table in the negotiations, while Republicans have vowed not to agree to any deal that includes tax hikes.

Gallup also found that 41 percent of Tea Party supporters would want the committee to compromise, while 53 percent would rather see a deal that Tea Partyers like.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced his selections for the supercommittee. He and his Democratic and Republican counterparts in the Senate and House have until Aug. 16 to each pick three members for the committee. Reid tapped Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

If the committee can come to an agreement, the panel's recommendation then goes to Congress for an up-or-down vote.