With Countdown to Sequestration, Poll Finds Americans Want Spending Cuts to Solve Federal Debt Crisis

Americas debt crisis should be reduced by incorporating spending cuts alone, according to 45 percent of voters in a new survey Tuesday.

The Rasmussen Reports' poll shows a plurality of voters wants spending cuts alone as a method to reduce the federal deficit.

The poll also finds 36 percent feel a blend of tax increases coupled with spending cuts will get Americas fiscal house in order. Interestingly, within that subset, 18 percent want the approach to include more tax increases than cuts, while the same amount of respondents (18 percent) prefer more spending cuts than tax hikes.

The survey comes only three days before the deep cuts known as sequestration are set to take place. Both sides of the aisle have accused the other of playing politics with sequestration. On Monday, House Republicans blasted Obama for campaign tactics, as the president visits Newport News, Va., Tuesday to highlight the impacts of defense spending cuts on that community.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott joined other governors across the nation to express his displeasure with the childhood antics taking place in Washington, which he described as an elementary school game of chicken.

It is clear that Americans surveyed want the Obama administration to work with House Republicans on some measure of a deal. Only 6 percent support a deal that raises taxes alone, while 13 percent are undecided.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted Feb. 24-25. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points