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Sixty-two percent in this ABCNEWS/Nightline poll do not want to spend that kind of additional money, almost precisely the level of opposition that initially greeted the president's proposal. Thirty-six percent support the package.
President Bush's rating for handling the situation in Iraq is also flat, and near its career low. The public divides, with 50 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving. That's about where it's been all month, but down from 67 percent approval in June and a peak of 75 percent at the end of April, just before Bush declared the major fighting over.
Support/ Oppose Iraq Package |
| TIME | SUPPORT | OPPOSE |
| Now | 36% | 62% |
9/13/2003 | 38% | 61% | | |
If Congress does approve the $87 billion request, Americans fracture over how to pay for it. The leading option — selected by 35 percent — is to eliminate Bush's recent tax cut. Twenty-nine percent would cut spending on other programs to cover the cost, while 17 percent favor increasing the federal budget deficit.
GROUPS — These views are strongly partisan. Eighty-two percent of Republicans approve of Bush's work on Iraq; that dives to 49 percent of independents and 27 percent of Democrats. And 62 percent of Republicans support spending the $87 billion; that plummets to 33 percent of independents and 23 percent of Democrats.
As far as paying for the package, Republicans by a 14-point margin prefer to cut spending, while Democrats and independents are more likely to favor eliminating the tax cut.
Approve of Bush's Handling of Iraq |
| All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans |
| 50% | 27% | 49% | 82% |
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Disapprove of Bush's Handling of Iraq |
| All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans |
| 47% | 72% | 47% | 17% |
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Support $87 Billion Package |
| All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans |
| 36% | 23% | 33% | 62% |
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Oppose $87 Billion Package |
| All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans |
| 62% | 77% | 64% | 36% |
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Eliminate Tax Cut |
| All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans |
| 35% | 44% | 39% | 23% |
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Cut Spending |
| All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans |
| 29% | 22% | 27% | 37% |
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Add to Deficit |
| All | Democrats | Independents | Republicans |
| 17% | 17% | 19% | 18% |
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Methodology
This ABCNEWS/Nightline poll was conducted by telephone Sept. 26-29 among a random national sample of 942 adults. The results have a 3.5-point error margin. Fieldwork was conducted by ICR (International Communications Research of Media), Pa.
See the full questions and results.
Previous ABCNEWS polls can be found in our Poll Vault.
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