“We didn’t have to twist arms,” Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said about getting the Democratic bill through the Senate.

Party leaders also argued that, after decades of work, they had finally succeeded in turning tax cuts for the middle class and relief for the wealthy into different conversations altogether — something they said would give them an advantage in both the lame-duck session of Congress and for tax battles further down the road.

Republicans, Schumer added, have “been counting on Democrats to eventually bow to their traditional upper hand on the tax issue. But yesterday’s vote shows the politics on taxes have finally turned against the Republicans.”

QUESTION: In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose raising taxes on those with incomes over $150,000 a year?

Ohio 66% support 31% oppose
Missouri 58% support 36% oppose
Montana 62% support 34% oppose
Minnesota 67% support 30% oppose


QUESTION: In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose raising taxes on those with incomes over $250,000 a year?

Ohio 72% support 26% oppose
Missouri 67% support 30% oppose
Montana 69% support 28% oppose
Minnesota 71% support 27% oppose

Republican breakout

Ohio Republicans 54% support 44% oppose
Missouri Republicans 46% support 50% oppose
Montana Republicans 49% support 45% oppose
Minnesota Republicans 53% support 46% oppose


QUESTION: In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose raising taxes on those with incomes over $1,000,000 a year?

Ohio 78% support 21% oppose
Missouri 76% support 22% oppose
Montana 77% support 21% oppose
Minnesota 79% support 19% oppose

Republican Breakout

Ohio Republicans 64% support 35% oppose
Missouri Republicans 58% support 38% oppose
Montana Republicans 63% support 33% oppose
Minnesota Republicans 66% support 32% oppose


QUESTION: Would you support or oppose a proposal that said personal income above $1,000,000 would be taxed at 45%, income above $20,000,000 dollars would be taxed at 47%, and income above $1,000,000,000 would be taxed at 49%?

Ohio 62% support 29% oppose
Missouri 56% support 30% oppose
Montana 56% support 33% oppose
Minnesota 61% support 29% oppose


LEADERSHIP

QUESTION: If Senator led the national fight to raise taxes on millionaires, would that make you more or less likely to vote for him, or would it make no difference to you?

Ohio, Sherrod Brown 48% more likely 28% less likely 23% no difference
Montana, Jon Tester 42% more likely 31% less likely 26% no difference
Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar 47% more likely 29% less likely 24% no difference


CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID

QUESTION: In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose cutting spending on Social Security, which is the retirement program for the elderly?

Ohio 16% support 80% oppose
Missouri 17% support 76% oppose
Montana 20% support 76% oppose
Minnesota 23% support 72% oppose


QUESTION: In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose cutting spending on Medicare, which is the government health insurance program for the elderly?

Ohio 20% support 76% oppose
Missouri 19% support 77% oppose
Montana 24% support 71% oppose
Minnesota 26% support 69% oppose


QUESTION: In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose cutting spending on Medicaid, which is the government health insurance program for the poor, disabled, and children?

Ohio 33% support 61% oppose
Missouri 32% support 63% oppose
Montana 36% support 59% oppose
Minnesota 33% support 62% oppose


EFFECT OF CUTS ON THE ELECTORATE

QUESTION: If Senator (Name) voted to cut Medicare and Medicaid benefits, would that make you more or less likely to vote for him/her, or would it make no difference to you?

Ohio, Sherrod Brown (522 voters, 4.3% MOE) 15% more likely 65% less likely 20% no difference
Missouri, Claire McCaskill (564 voters, 4.1% MOE) 10% more likely 64% less likely 25% no difference
Montana, Jon Tester (723 voters, 3.6% MOE) 16% more likely 60% less likely 24% no difference
Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar (492 voters, 4.4% MOE) 17% more likely 57% less likely 26% no difference


QUESTION: If Senator (Name) voted to cut Social Security benefits or to raise the retirement age, would that make you more or less likely to vote for him/her, or would it make no difference to you?

Ohio, Sherrod Brown (478 voters, 4.5% MOE) 16% more likely 65% less likely 19% no difference
Missouri, Claire McCaskill (486 voters, 4.5% MOE) 14% more likely 54% less likely 32% no difference
Montana, Jon Tester (712 voters, 3.7% MOE) 15% more likely 61% less likely 24% no difference
Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar (508 voters, 4.4% MOE) 16% more likely 55% less likely 29% no difference


QUESTION: If President Obama supported or signed into law any cuts to Medicare and Medicaid benefits, would that make you more or less likely to vote for him, or would it make no difference to you?

Ohio (522 voters, 4.3% MOE) 12% more likely 58% less likely 30% no difference
Missouri (564 voters, 4.1% MOE) 9% more likely 57% less likely 34% no difference
Montana (723 voters, 3.6% MOE) 8% more likely 52% less likely 41% no difference
Minnesota (492 voters, 4.4% MOE) 12% more likely 42% less likely 46% no difference


QUESTION: If President Obama supported or signed into law any cuts to Social Security, or any raise in the retirement age, would that make you more or less likely to vote for him, or would it make no difference to you?

Ohio (478 voters, 4.5% MOE) 11% more likely 53% less likely 36% no difference
Missouri (486 voters, 4.5% MOE) 12% more likely 50% less likely 38% no difference
Montana (712 voters, 3.7% MOE) 12% more likely 55% less likely 34% no difference
Minnesota (508 voters, 4.4% MOE) 11% more likely 45% less likely 44% no difference


QUESTION: What do you think should be a higher priority for Congress: creating jobs or reducing the deficit?

Ohio 56% creating jobs 35% reducing deficit
Missouri 56% creating jobs 34% reducing deficit
Montana 45% creating jobs 45% reducing deficit
Minnesota 50% creating jobs 39% reducing deficit




Methodology information:

Montana: April 27-30, 1,435 likely voters, 2.6% margin of error unless otherwise noted.

Ohio: April 29-May 1: 1,000 likely voters, 3.1% margin of error unless otherwise noted

Minnesota: May 2-3, 1,000 likely voters, 3.1% margin of error unless otherwise noted.

Missouri: May 13-16, 1,050 Missouri voters, 3% margin of error unless otherwise noted.