Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Now Divided on Debt Limit Debate

Default Concerns Rise among Independents

July 11, 2011

As the debate over the nation's debt and deficit continues, the public has grown more concerned that failing to raise the debt limit would force the government into default and hurt the economy. Despite this change, however, about as many Americans are concerned by the consequences of raising the nation's debt limit as by the fallout from not doing so.

Currently, 47% say their greater concern is that raising the debt limit would lead to higher government spending and make the national debt bigger, while 42% say their greater concern is that not raising the limit would force the government into default and hurt the economy. This represents a change in the balance of opinion since May, when more expressed concern over raising the debt limit (48%) than said their greater concern was the prospect of a government default (35%).

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and The Washington Post, conducted July 7-10 among 1,007 adults, finds that independents are now evenly divided in concerns over the debt limit: 46% say their greater concern is that raising the limit would lead to higher government spending while 45% say their bigger concern is that not raising the limit will lead to a default. Two months ago, independents by 49% to 34% expressed more concern over raising the debt limit.

Opinions have changed little among Republicans and Democrats. In the new survey, 66% of Republicans say their greater concern is that raising the debt limit would lead to more government spending; 54% of Democrats say their greater concern is that not raising the limit would lead to a government default.

Among Republicans and Republican leaners, concern that raising the debt limit would lead to increased government spending is particularly pronounced among those who agree with the Tea Party. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Republicans and GOP leaners who agree with the Tea Party say their bigger concern is that raising the debt limit would result in more spending; that compares with 58% of Republicans and leaners who do not agree with the movement.

Continue reading the full report including topline findings at people-press.org.