Initial polling from Washington Post/ABC News on President Obama's budget shows that he is underwater with the public on his budget as a whole as well as on Social Security cuts.
Overall, roughly one-third of Americans offer no opinion on Obama’s budget, but those who do, lean against it (30 percent approve; 38 percent disapprove). The negativity stems from large opposition among Republicans (63 percent) and a negative split among independents (26 percent approve; 41 percent disapprove). [...]
The poll finds 51 percent of Americans oppose changing the way Social Security benefits are calculated to increase at a slower rate in a move known as the chained consumer price index, or “chained CPI” [...]
While both Republicans and Democrats tilt against the idea, chained CPI faces the steepest opposition from older Americans. More than six in 10 of those ages 65 and older oppose a slower benefit increase for Social Security, as do 57 percent of those approaching retirement age (ages 50 to 64).
While Democrats overall approve the Obama budget, with 52 percent approval, they disapprove of the chained CPI proposal at the same rate, and on this one are in agreement with 49 percent of Republicans and 53 percent of independents. And the people most likely to vote in 2014.
