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The Democratic Strategist

Political Strategy for a Permanent Democratic Majority

Brownstein: Obama’s Job-Creation Ideas More Popular Than Those of GOP

Ron Brownstein has a post up at National Journal Daily, “With Doubts, Voters Prefer Obama Jobs Plan” reporting on a United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll with some good news, tempered by cautionary notes, for President Obama.
The Poll, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International 9/8-11, indicates that nearly half of respondents believed the president’s jobs plan will “help somewhat” and that the President still enjoys a slight edge 37 to 35 percent over congressional Republicans in public trust to revive the economy. As Brownstein explains, “With some exceptions, those polled saw more promise in the ideas that Obama offered in his speech than proposals Republicans are touting in Congress and in the 2012 campaign.” Brownstein cautions, however:

…The share of Americans who said that Obama’s policies have compounded economic difficulties was nearly double the portion who said he has improved conditions. And just one-in-six said they expected the jobs plan he sent to Congress will significantly reduce unemployment.

Brownstein also noted strong public support for a constitutional amendment to cap federal spending and balance the budget, along with slight and near majorities for cutting corporate taxes, repealing health care reform, tax cuts for all earners and Romney’s proposal to “repeal a regulation for each new one promulgated.”
Conversely, “Nearly as many (46 percent) thought that extending the Bush tax cuts would not be too effective or not effective at all,” and “at least 37 percent also said expressed doubt that repealing the health care law, limiting regulations as Romney proposed, or cutting corporate taxes would do much good.” Moreover, notes Brownstein:

Ideas Obama touted in last week’s speech generally fared better. Three-fourths of those polled said they believed his proposal to cut taxes on employers who hire new workers, or provide a raise to existing ones, would be either very or somewhat effective in creating jobs. Seven-in-10 said the same about his proposal to provide state and local governments funds to prevent layoffs of teachers and police officers. Two-thirds rendered the same verdict on the idea of helping more homeowners refinance their mortgages at lower interest rates.

Brownstein also notes that people of color more strongly supported the President’s proposals. But nearly half of white respondents believed the President’s actions “had hurt the economy,” with college-educated whites as negative as those without a college education.
As Brownstein concludes, “…Obama’s hopes next year may turn on convincing voters to see the 2012 election as a forward-looking choice between competing vision rather than a referendum on his results since 2009.”

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