Poll: Republicans will bear more blame if "fiscal cliff" failure

Republicans will shoulder more blame than President Barack Obama if Congress fails to pass legislation to prevent automatic spending cuts and tax increases, known as the "fiscal cliff," according to a new poll.


Fifty-three percent of adults said Republicans in Congress will be "more to blame" if an agreement is not reached, according to a new survey conducted by the Washington Post and the Pew Research Center Nov. 29-Dec. 2.

Only 27 percent of respondents placed more blame on the president and 12 percent faulted both the president and the GOP.

A party breakdown of respondents shows blame directed at the opposing party. But among Independents, Republicans received 52 percent of blame and the president received 21 percent.

A CNN/ORC International survey released last week indicated more Americans would blame the GOP in Congress (45%) rather than Obama (34%) if the fiscal cliff provisions actually go into effect next year.