Gallup: More Republicans, independents want cliff compromise

Republicans and independents increasingly want their leaders to cut a deal to avoid the tax increases and spending increases set to go in effect in less than a month, Gallup said Monday.

Around two in three Republicans now want policymakers to compromise on the "fiscal cliff," up from 55 percent a week ago. Roughly 70 percent of independents want the same, as opposed to around three in five last week.

In all, Gallup said fully seven in 10 people in the U.S. wanted a compromise, up from 62 percent a week ago. 

About one in four wanted Washington officials not to abandon any principles in talks over the fiscal cliff a week ago, but that figure has now fallen to 18 percent, Gallup found.

The findings come a day after President Obama and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) — the two key figures in cliff discussions — met at the White House, and on the same day staff-level talks between the two offices continued.

Boehner and other top House Republicans have offered $800 billion in fresh revenues as part of a deal, but are drawing the line at tax rate increases. 

Obama has been pushing for $1.6 trillion in revenue, and said a rate increase for the wealthy has to be part of any deal. Republicans have also said that the administration is not offering enough spending cuts in their proposals.

The Gallup survey found that around seven in 10 Democrats are calling for compromise, around the same as last week. 

Six in 10 also believe that a cliff solution will be reached before the start of 2013.

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