Forty-one percent (41%) of voters nationwide have a favorable opinion of the $3.6-trillion budget proposed by President Obama in the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

But 46% hold an unfavorable view, and 13% are not sure.

As he seeks support for his budget, however, the president holds an important trump card among those who are undecided. While they are unsure about the budget itself, 71% of these undecideds approve of the way Obama has performed as president and are likely to give him the benefit of the doubt.

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Government employees, by a 57% to 32% margin, have a favorable opinion of the budget. Those who work in the private sector hold a different view. Fifty-two percent (52%) of private sector workers have an unfavorable opinion while 39% look upon the budget favorably.

Overall, 75% of voters are concerned that the new budget will lead to too much government spending. That includes 49% who are Very Concerned.

At the other extreme, 38% are concerned that the new budget will cut taxes too much. Just 12% are Very Concerned about too much tax cutting.

Forty-four percent (44%) believe the budget will help the economy while 41% believe it will hurt.

Support for the budget proposal is strongly correlated with perceptions of the president’s job performance. Among those who Strongly Approve of how Obama is doing, 87% favor his budget plan. Among those who disapprove of the president’s performance, just one percent (1%) have a favorable opinion of the budgetary blueprint.

The group in the middle are those who Somewhat Approve of the president’s performance. Among these voters, 33% have a favorable opinion of the budget plan, 35% offer an unfavorable opinion, and 33% are not sure.

As for concerns about too much spending, just 47% of those who Strongly Approve of Obama’s performance share it. Only 10% of the president’s strongest supporters are Very Concerned about the possibility of too much spending.

However, among those who are somewhat supportive of Obama’s performance, 86% are concerned that the budget plan includes too much government spending. Among those who disapprove of the president’s performance, 99% worry that the budget will increase spending too much.

Regardless of their opinion, people are paying attention to Washington’s debate over the budget. Sixty-two percent (62%) are following news coverage Very Closely, and another 31% are watching Somewhat Closely. Those paying the closest attention are slightly more negative in their view of the budget than other voters.

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