Don’t Fear the Reaper?

Democrats are hoping for a government shutdown–or claim to be, anyway–while Republicans are doing what they can to avoid one. If today’s Rasmussen survey is a guide, perhaps a shutdown wouldn’t be a near-death experience for Republicans:

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters think making deeper spending cuts in the federal budget for 2011 is more important than avoiding a partial government shutdown. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree and say avoiding a shutdown is more important. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.
Republicans want to make more spending cuts in the current budget than Democrats do, but 36% of voters think it would be better to avoid a government shutdown by authorizing spending at a level most Democrats will agree to. Fifty-seven percent (57%) would rather have a shutdown until Democrats and Republicans can agree on deeper spending cuts.

These numbers are unchanged since February, suggesting that the Democrats’ posturing and table-thumping hasn’t had much impact.

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