Fifty-seven percent say they favor Mr. Bush's plan while 36 percent oppose it. The Democrats' plan is supported by 49 percent and opposed by 42 percent. Support for Mr. Bush's measure may have more to do with its high visibility than any endorsement of its contents. Most people say the plan will not have much effect on their finances and that it favors the rich. Moreover, Americans do not seem to know much about either plan.
People seem conflicted about what they want in a tax cut and whether it is the proper alternative.
Most Americans say they prefer a tax cut to paying down the debt. But in response to another question, a majority say a large tax cut now would be bad for the economy or not make much difference at all. And when offered a choice, people still prefer using the surplus to shore up Social Security rather than to cut taxes. A looming concern for Mr. Bush may be that 54 percent of Americans have a general sense that things in this country are going in the wrong direction, compared with 40 percent who say things are going in the right direction. Nearly three times as many Americans see the economy as getting worse than did just one year ago.