Poll: Majorities say Obama making a serious effort, GOP leaders are not

Republican leaders are perceived as not making a serious effort to reach an agreement on a budget deal according to a new poll released Thursday, underscoring the political risk of the "fiscal cliff" negotiations for GOP lawmakers.

According to the survey, conducted by Pew Research, only 32 percent of Americans say that Republican leaders are working sincerely to reach an agreement, while 57 percent believe the GOP is not doing so. But more than half of those surveyed — 55 percent — say President Obama is making a serious effort. 

Republicans in the House are also suffering from sagging approval ratings. Only a quarter of those surveyed approve of GOP leaders in the Congress, while two-thirds say they disapprove of the job they are doing. By contrast, four in 10 approve of Democratic leadership in Congress, with 53 percent disapproving of Democratic leaders.

President Obama fares the best, with his approval rating hitting 55 percent just over a month after his reelection. That's up five percentage points since July, and double digits from January, when Obama held a 44 percent favorability rating.

Reinforcing the idea that voters see Democrats as compromising, 53 percent of those surveyed said Democrats were "more willing to work with leaders from the other party." Only 27 percent said the GOP was more willing to reach across the aisle.

Similarly, 53 percent of Americans see the Republican party as "more extreme in its positions." Only a third say that of Democrats.

The polling also suggests that the public generally supports the budget priorities that have been outlined by Democrats. Nearly seven in 10 voters want to raise income tax rates on incomes of more than $250,000, while 54 percent support limiting deductions and 52 percent want to raise the tax rate on investment income.

The only entitlement reforms to receive support from more than half of all Americans are reductions in Medicare and Social Security benefits for high income seniors.

Majorities of those surveyed oppose raising the Social Security or Medicare eligibility age, and 52 percent say they do not want to limit the home mortgage interest deduction. Also unpopular are opposed cuts to the defense budget and welfare programs. More than two-thirds of Americans also object to infrastructure and education cuts.

---