Gallup: Majority of Americans Back Stimulus Package

Source: Washington Post

A narrow majority of Americans favor the Democratic leadership's efforts to put a $775 billion economic stimulus package on President-elect Barack Obama's desk quickly after he takes office. A Gallup poll released yesterday found 53 percent in favor of such a bill, 36 percent opposed.

Broader majorities backed several specific components of Obama's plan -- including tax cuts for individuals, families and businesses and increased spending on infrastructure -- while fewer were in favor of expanded aid to state governments.

Along party lines, Democrats expressed broadest support for the overall plan (67 percent), followed by a slim majority of independents who backed it (54 percent); 34 percent of Republicans said they support the bill. Ideological leanings, however, further divide the GOP. Moderate and liberal Republicans were about evenly split on the plan (46 percent in favor, 44 percent opposed), while conservative GOPers tilted heavily against the package (68 percent opposed it).

Turning to the policies that may make up such a plan, more than seven in 10 told Gallup's pollsters they backed job creation via spending on infrastructure (78 percent favor), tax cuts for businesses to encourage job creation (75 percent) and tax cuts of up to $1,000 for families and $500 for individuals (72 percent). Majorities across party lines favored each of these proposals, with the widest gap coming on increased spending on infrastructure (89 percent of Democrats favored that component, as did 77 percent of independents and 66 percent of Republicans).

The public was more closely divided on increasing aid to state governments in order to avoid budget shortfalls: 49 percent favored such spending, 42 percent opposed it. Only among Democrats (62 percent in favor) did the plan gain majority support. About half of independents (48 percent) and a third of Republicans (33 percent) supported it....

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