Poll: Majority Believe U.S. Likely to Default on Debt

As the debt ceiling debate rages in Washington with no deal in sight, a new Rasmussen Report shows a majority of Americans believe the United States will likely default on its debt.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of American adults now think it is at least somewhat likely that the United States soon will face another financial industry meltdown similar to the 2008 crisis, with 35% who say it is Very Likely. In April, 59% felt another meltdown is likely in the near future, including 26% who said it is Very Likely.

Twenty-two percent (22%) believe another meltdown is unlikely anytime soon, but that includes only two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Sixty-two percent (62%) now think it is at least somewhat likely that the U.S. government will default on its debt in the next five years. That’s up 18 points from 44% six months ago. Twenty-eight percent (28%) consider a government default unlikely. This includes 30% who say a debt default is Very Likely and six percent (6%) who think it’s Not At All Likely. In April, 19% viewed a default as Very Likely, while 11% said it is not At All Likely.

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President Obama has asked for a debt ceiling increase without conditions, but a new Fox News poll shows 58 percent of Americans would not vote for an increase.

A Fox News national poll asks voters to imagine being a lawmaker and having to cast an up-or-down vote on raising the debt ceiling: 37 percent would vote in favor of it, while 58 percent would vote against it.

Another Fox News poll shows 62 percent of Americans want spending cuts in return for a debt ceiling increase.