Is this really a surprise? Many people love the idea of brutal cuts when it's the other person who is at the receiving end but it's a different story when it hits home. Politicians love to be as popular as it takes to win the next election but after taking in so much money from right wing organizations that are demanding the cuts, who will the GOP follow?
The survey shows Republicans in Washington caught between powerful opposing forces: demands from the Tea Party right for spending cuts to reduce the budget deficits, and fears by crucial swing voter groups that cuts would harm them amid anxiety over the weak economy.
Those pressing hardest for spending cuts represent "an incredibly powerful but small ideological part of our electorate," said Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducts the NBC/WSJ survey with Democratic counterpart Peter Hart.
To the peril of Republican politicians, their priorities collide squarely with the concerns of younger voters, senior citizens, independents and suburban women whom the GOP needs to win elections. Mr. McInturff called that "a huge flashing yellow sign for Republicans" in their pending showdown with the White House and Congressional Democrats, but wasn't sure his party would heed it.
