Republicans still on losing side of public opinion on fiscal cliff

The two least likely people in D.C. to win a popularity contest. Here's more fodder for those Republicans who are growing alarmed at the possibility that they'll be blamed if a deal isn't struck on tax hikes and spending cuts by year's end in the form of two new polls. According to the latest Quinnipiac poll, they'll definitely be blamed. And they hate Republican ideas on revenue increases.

By a huge 67 - 23 percent margin, voters oppose eliminating the home mortgage interest deduction, but strongly favor, 62 - 28 percent, limiting the deduction to the first $500,000 of mortgage debt. By 56 - 35 percent, voters favor eliminating that deduction for second homes.

Voters 65 - 31 percent support higher taxes on households making more than $250,000 per year, with 84 - 14 percent support from Democrats and 66 - 31 percent support from independent voters. Republicans are opposed 53 - 41 percent.  [...]

American voters say 56 - 38 percent that Obama and congressional Democrats will make a good faith effort to cooperate with congressional Republicans on important issues. By 51 - 43 percent, voters say congressional Republicans will not act in good faith.

Here's the other kicker for Republicans, from an Associated Press-GfK poll. The stuff they say will bring them to the table to extend the tax cuts for the middle class (hugely popular here, too) is extremely unpopular with the general public. That's of course why they've been trying to force President Obama to spell out his spending cuts'then they could blame it all on him when it turns out to be a political disaster. The public really does not want Medicare and Social Security to be sacrificed to the deficit.

Americans prefer letting tax cuts expire for the country's top earners, as President Barack Obama insists, while support has declined for cutting government services to curb budget deficits, an Associated Press-GfK poll shows. Fewer than half the Republicans polled favor continuing the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy.

There's also a reluctance to trim Social Security, Medicare or defense programs, three of the biggest drivers of federal spending, the survey released Wednesday found. The results could strengthen Obama's hand in his fiscal cliff duel with Republicans, in which he wants to raise taxes on the rich and cut spending by less than the GOP wants.

Well, at least Republicans have the people on their side in not cutting defense.