These are the topline results of a YouGov/Economist survey of 1000 US adults interviewed October 5 - 7, 2013 on the government shutdown. The results show that most neither Democrats nor Republicans are winning the public opinion battle over the federal government shutdown. The margin of error is 4.3%.
Click here to see full tables and demographic crossbreaks
Who do you think is most to blame for the shutdown of the federal government? Select all that apply.
Democrats in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28%
Republicans in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53%
President Obama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38%
Other (Please specify) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10%
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9%
None of the above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1%
Is one of these choices more to blame?
Asked of those who identified more than one choice being the most to blame among the first three responses.
Democrats in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16%
Republicans in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30%
President Obama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55%
Who do you think is most to blame for the shutdown of the federal government?
Compiled from individual responses
Democrats in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6%
Republicans in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45%
President Obama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30%
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7%
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
None of the above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2%
Do you think all, most, some or only a couple of the Democrats in Congress are to blame for the shutdown?
Asked of respondents who blame Democrats for the shutdown.
All of the Democrats in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22%
Most of the Democrats in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53%
Some of the Democrats in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22%
Only a couple of the Democrats in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3%
Do you think all, most, some or only a couple of the Republicans in Congress are to blame for the shutdown?
Asked of respondents who blame Republicans for the shutdown.
All of the Republicans in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22%
Most of the Republicans in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51%
Some of the Republicans in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
Only a couple of the Republicans in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2%
Do you think the health care reform law should be expanded, kept the same, or repealed?
Expanded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21%
Kept the same . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19%
Repealed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39%
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21%
Which do you prefer, protecting or stopping Obamacare?
Protecting Obamacare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36%
Stopping Obamacare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43%
Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20%
Which is more important, your position on Obamacare or ending the government shutdown?
Protecting Obamacare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32%
Stopping Obamacare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39%
Ending the federal government shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30%
