Poll: Support for Stimulus Dropping

Popular support for the stimulus package being deliberated by Congress has fallen over the last two weeks, dropping to 37 percent today, according to a new poll from Rasmussen.

Two weeks ago, 45 percent of Americans supported the package according to Rasmussen’s polling. Last week, support dropped to 42 percent.

Opposition to the stimulus, which Rasmussen reported at 34 percent on Jan. 21, has risen to 43 percent.

President Obama went on a media offensive yesterday, seeking to garner support for the package in several TV interviews, though his answers to questions about former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle’s (D-S.D.) withdrawal as nominee for Health and Human Services secretary have dominated the news coverage of those interviews.

House Republicans touted the poll this morning, showcasing it as evidence that Americans believe more government spending is not the answer and that cutting taxes is the best way to stimulate the economy

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) highlighted the poll at a news conference this morning following the weekly, closed-door House Republican conference meeting. As more Americans learn what is contained in the Democratic bill that passed the House last week — without one favorable Republican vote — support for the Republican alternative of “fast acting tax cuts” will increase, Cantor said.

Cantor said he hopes his Democratic colleagues will start listening to members of the minority party, after they see today’s results.

“We’re looking to work with this administration and hopefully the Speaker, who may finally begin to realize that our plan has a tremendous amount of merit, Cantor said. “As the President said a few weeks ago, there’s nothing crazy in our plan. And now the American people have spoken and they believe in our plan.”

–Chris Good and Molly K. Hooper