Republicans and independents who plan to vote in the 2012 GOP primaries overwhelming favor the deal House Speaker John Boehner cut with Democrats and the White House, by a 68 percent to 27 percent margin according to a new poll.
The InsiderAdvantage/ Majority Opinion Research poll was
conducted April 11, before the Congressional Budget Office reported that the cuts would only drop $352 million, rather than the $38 billion initially reported, from this year’s budget.
In fact, increases in emergency spending for defense will actually increase overall federal expenditures from 2010 levels, sources say.
Still, the poll’s findings indicate a strong level of support for the continuing resolution to keep the federal government operational.
Many Republican leaders voiced concern that a shutdown of federal operations would carry grave political risks. Some grass-roots conservatives, however, have complained that House Speaker John Boehner failed to drive a tough enough bargain.
The InsiderAdvantage/ Majority Opinion Research poll asked likely GOP primary voters: “Do you approve or disapprove of the Republican Congress reaching a deal with President Obama and Senate Leadership to keep the federal budget funded?”
More than two-thirds said they approved. Twenty-seven percent disapproved, and 5 percent were undecided.
University of Virginia Center for Politics director Larry Sabato told Newsmax that the poll suggests most GOP primary voters are taking a pragmatic view of the budget-cut deal.
“More than two-thirds support of the budget agreement is a very high level,” he said, “especially considering many in the Tea Party have been criticizing it.”
Adds Sabato: “I was also struck by the large percentage of those 65 years of age or older who favored the deal--76.5 percent.
“Senior voters fueled the GOP’s comeback in 2010, and their support is critical to Republican hopes in 2012. Again, seniors are often practical in their political outlook, having seen a lot in their time.”
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