With concerns about the economy and mounting federal deficits before them, 46% of voters nationwide favor an across-the-board tax cut for all Americans. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% oppose such a tax cut, and 19% are not sure.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of voters believe tax cuts help the economy, and 59% say tax cuts are a better job-creation tool than increased government spending.

Republicans favor an across-the-board tax cut, while Democrats are evenly divided. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 45% are in favor, and 35% are opposed.

Most in the Political Class oppose an across-the-board tax cut, while most of those with populist or Mainstream views like the idea (see more about the divide between the Political Class and Mainstream Americans).

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On the surface, the data in support of a tax cut appears to contradict polling showing that voters consider reducing the deficit the top presidential budget priority. However, when the president outlined his budget initiatives last February, he did not include tax cuts as one of his objectives.

Additionally, voters appear to be more concerned about reducing federal spending than the deficit. Half (49%) of voters think reducing federal spending is the more important goal, while 39% say bringing down the deficit should be the priority.

Polling released earlier today shows that a plurality would prefer tax cuts and a budget deficit rather than tax hikes and a balanced budget. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of voters believe it is possible to balance the federal budget without cutting taxes, but 42% say it is not.

The president on Monday released a proposed $3.8-trillion budget for the coming fiscal year, which includes a largest-ever $1.56-trillion deficit.

Shortly after Election Day in 2008, Scott Rasmussen noted in a Wall Street Journal column how Barack Obama won the White House by campaigning like Ronald Reagan. “Down the campaign homestretch, Mr. Obama's tax-cutting promise became his clearest policy position. Eventually he stole the tax issue from the Republicans,” Rasmussen wrote. He noted further that “the candidate who most credibly promises the lowest level of taxes has won every presidential election in at least the last 40 years.”

Currently, however, just six percent (6%) expect their own taxes to go down during the Obama years, while 42% expect a tax hike.

Polling conducted following the president's State of the Union speech last week showed that just 21% believe Obama’s assertion that he has cut taxes for 95% of all Americans as he promised on the campaign trail.

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