Americans would rather see the debt ceiling raised than the government shut down or Obamacare blocked, a new survey released Wednesday finds.
The CNN/ORC International poll also says it’s the Republicans, not Democrats, who are taking the political hit from the government shutdown. More respondents blamed the GOP, CNN reported.
The federal government will tap out funding and reach the debt ceiling on Oct. 17, putting the Treasury Department in the awkward position of announcing it has no more money. The solution, to Democrats, the White House and some Republicans: Raise the debt ceiling again. But many in the GOP are balking at that idea and have signaled they would use that fiscal issue as a bargaining chip to defund Obamacare.
But 56 percent of Americans in the poll said that’s a bad idea. They would rather the debt ceiling be raised. Another 38 percent, however, said that standing firm on that notion — and refusing to nudge the debt ceiling any higher — would be a good move for the country.
Also in the poll: Fully 51 percent to 43 percent said it’s more important to raise the debt ceiling than to delay the implementation of Obamacare, CNN reported.
If the debt ceiling isn’t raised, Republicans — once again — get the blame. About 53 percent of the CNN poll respondents said the GOP would be more responsible for this impasse than President Obama. By comparison, 31 percent point the blame at Mr. Obama over Republicans.
SEE ALSO: House GOP adds NIH, National Guard to shutdown bill strategy
Pollers interviewed 803 adults by telephone on Sept. 27-29. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage point.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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