Maryland is counting on a robust federal stimulus package to avoid painful cuts to critical services and balance the state budget during a severe economic downturn. Meanwhile, RNC Chairman Michael Steele and local Republican bloggers are aggressively pushing the notion that Americans oppose the President Obama’s $800 billion stimulus package.
The evidence cited is a poll by Rasmussen which found that 37% of Americans supported and 43% of Americans opposed the stimulus package. With an error margin of 3%, the poll essentially shows the public equally split.
More importantly, the Rasmussen poll is at odds with every other major public poll taken in recent days, all of which show that Americans support the stimulus package by a substantial margin:
CNN (2/7-2/8): “As you may know, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a bill that would attempt to stimulate the economy by increasing federal government spending and cutting taxes at a total cost to the government of about eight hundred billion dollars. Based on what you have read or heard about this, do you favor or oppose the bill that the Senate is expected to vote on?”
Favor: 54%
Oppose: 45%Pew (2/4-2/8): “From what you’ve read and heard, do you think this [stimulus plan being proposed by President Obama that may cost about $800 billion] is a good idea or a bad idea?”
Good idea: 51%
Bad idea: 34%CBS (2/2-2/4): “Would you approve or disapprove of the federal government passing an economic stimulus bill costing more than 800 billion dollars in order to try to help the economy?”
Approve: 51
Disapprove: 39Gallup: (2/4): “As you may know, Congress is considering a new economic stimulus package of at least 800 billion dollars. Do you favor or oppose Congress passing this legislation?”
Favor: 52
Oppose: 38
You can keep track of the latest polling on the stimulus package at PollingReport.com.
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