Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters nationwide say that the economic stimulus package passed earlier this year has had no impact on the economy. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 57% believe that if Congress and the President do nothing more, the economy will be in even worse shape a year from now.

However, if another stimulus package is passed, just 17% believe the economy will get better and 21% say it will get worse. Most voters—54%--say that if another stimulus package is passed, the economy will be about the same a year from today. These general views of the stimulus package were largely shared across partisan and demographic lines.

While voters seem to want action from political leaders, 54% believe that the best thing the government can do is “get out of the way by reducing regulation and taxes.” Republicans overwhelmingly hold that view while Democrats are evenly divided—42% of Barack Obama’s party agree that the best economic policy is for the government to get out of the way while another 42% disagree. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 50% think the government should get out of the way and 32% disagree.

A majority of both men and women think the best economic policy is to reduce regulation and taxes. So do a majority of voters in all age brackets. There is, however, a huge ideological divide. The notion of reduced regulation and taxes as good economic policy is embraced by 73% of conservative voters, 48% of politically moderate voters, and just 30% of liberal voters. Most liberals (53%) disagree.

Earlier surveys have consistently shown that a solid majority of voters believe tax increases harm the economy. Sixty-five percent (65%) are opposed to an increase in capital gains taxes.

The economy has emerged as the top issue of Election 2008. Voters generically trust Democrats more than Republicans on the issue but trust John McCain more than Barack Obama.

The Rasmussen Consumer Index shows consumer confidence hovering barely above record lows while three-out-of-four Americans expect conditions to get even worse.

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