Spend More Time Talking About How You Will Spend Less

New Polling Analysis: Voters Worried About Debt, Not Sold On Either Candidate’s Plan to Cut Spending

Arlington, Va. – Public Notice today released a polling analysis memo examining Americans’ attitudes toward government spending, the debt and the size of government. With both presidential campaigns currently debating the role of the federal government in Americans’ lives, this memo provides greater context to debate and highlights the growing concern among voters about how their tax dollars are being used.

Gretchen Hamel, executive director of Public Notice, issued the following statement on the memo:

“Voters are rightly worried about government spending and the national debt, with concern growing in the past year, but neither presidential candidate has a clear advantage on the issue. Both candidates are within or just outside the margin of error on government spending and debt and neither wins a majority. The pundits and talking heads may be focused on process and candidate gaffes, but the American people are focused on our debt problem. The candidate that wins the debt issue will win the election.”

Key Findings:

• Voter concern over spending and the debt has increased by 10 points this year. In Public Notice’s January tracking poll 43 percent of those surveyed said they and their family were “very” or “extremely” impacted by the national debt. In August, that number was up 10 points to 53 percent.
• Two-thirds of voters see a link between the debt and the health of the economy. Almost two-thirds of voters (65 percent) think reducing the debt will improve the economy, according to a Suffolk poll. Sixty-seven percent of voters say the economy is extremely or very impacted by the debt, according to a recent Public Notice poll.
• A majority of voters don’t see more government or more government spending as a solution to our economic problems. According to ABC and The Washington Post, 56 percent of Americans prefer a smaller government, and 53 percent believe government programs are more likely to interfere with their lives.
• Neither presidential candidate has won voter confidence on spending and the debt. According to Public Notice’s August poll, only 44 percent of likely voters believe President Obama has a plan to lower the debt, while 49 percent believe Mitt Romney does.

Full memo below:

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