Americans Seek Deficit Cut, Even in Hard Times

WASHINGTON - A majority of Americans want the government to cut the budget deficit even in hard economic times and believe that closing the fiscal gap would create jobs, a Reuters Ipsos poll showed Tuesday.

The survey puts more pressure on lawmakers to avoid political gridlock and work together to reduce the budget deficit after Nov. 2 congressional elections.

Fifty-seven percent of Americans say the government should cut the $1.47 trillion deficit when the economy is in trouble and 60 percent say reducing the fiscal gap would create jobs.

The poll showed support for the Democrats and Republicans essentially tied, and President Barack Obama's approval rating recovering two points from an August poll to 47 percent.