Fifty-nine percent (59%) of American adults agree with New York Senator Hillary Clinton’s call to raise taxes on wealthy Americans. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 31% are opposed.

However, the country is evenly divided when it comes to Clinton’s recent statement that she would appoint her husband as a roaming Ambassador to the world. Just 45% believe that having former President Bill Clinton fill this role would be a good idea while 42% disagree. Former President Clinton is viewed favorably by 57% of Americans.On both topics, Democrats are overwhelming supportive and most Republicans are opposed. However, those not affiliated with either major party view them quite differently. By a 2-to-1 margin (58% to 29%), unaffiliateds support calls for higher taxes on the wealthy. At the same time, just 38% of unaffiliateds say appointing Bill Clinton as a roaming Ambassador is a good idea. Forty-six percent (46%) of unaffiliateds disagree.

While most Americans (and Democratic Presidential hopefuls) support the notion of raising taxes on the wealthy, the issue is challenging politically. Two-thirds (67%) of those who earn less than $60,000 a year believe that raising taxes on the wealthy is a good idea. Support for this policy falls to 49% among those earning more than $60,000 annually.

Thirty-four percent (34%) of Americans believe their own taxes will go up if Clinton is elected. That number increases to 45% among those who earn more than $60,000 a year and 52% among those earning upwards of $100,000 annually.

Earlier surveys have found that most Americans believe higher taxes hurt the economy.

Senator Clinton has been the leader among hopefuls for the Democratic Presidential nomination from the beginning of the campaign. The most recent update, however, shows that Illinois Senator Barack Obama has moved into a tie for the top spot. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards has remained consistently in third place. Edwards has recently called for repeal of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Thirty-one percent (31%) of Americans agree with him, 33% disagree, and 36% are not sure.

Rasmussen Reports continuously updates favorability ratings and general election match-ups for all Democratic and Republican candidates. Also available are ratings for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports also monitors underlying party identification trends and has found a substantial shift away from the GOP over the past six months.

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