Poll: Americans More Confident In Obama, Dems To Seek Bipartisan Solutions Than GOP

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

Poll: Americans More Confident In Obama, Dems To Seek Bipartisan Solutions Than GOP

TOM KLUDT 7:15 AM EST, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Majorities of Americans believe that President Obama and his fellow Democrats in Congress will sincerely work with the other party, a Gallup poll released Tuesday shows, while decidedly fewer hold similar confidence in Republicans.

According to the poll, 65 percent believe that Obama will make a "sincere effort" to work with the opposing party's leadership to reach a solution "acceptable to both parties." Fifty-seven percent believe that Congressional Democrats will make the same bipartisan appeal.

Americans are less certain, however, about the bipartisan capacity of the Congressional GOP. Less than half of respondents, 48 percent, said that Republicans on Capitol Hill will sincerely work with Democratic leaders to strike an agreement that's palatable to both sides.

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Link to Gallup:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/158876/americans-think-obama-seek-bipartisan-solutions.aspx

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/poll-americans-more-confident-in-obama-dems-to

[AnnaLee]

1. Somehow these poll questions seem archaic to me.

Now that we know that there is a good chance that the Republicans won't negotiate in good faith (based on prior experience and current bluster), shouldn't the polls be also asking what people support should negotiations fail? The current questions make it look like if the Republicans block solutions, the Democrats should just do nothing. Wouldn't it be nice to know if the public supports the Democrats trying to find a solution that is not a Grand Bargain? The answer to questions like that might show the Republicans that the people are ready to drop them, not back them up. (Even if implementation of a one-party solution is difficult to impossible.)

Are the people really in love with Ryan type compromises, for example?

[Doctor_J]

2. So, who will get more of what they want?

the Compromisers or the hardliners. If Obama's first term is any indication, we're in trouble.