Hope n Change!

(The Hill) — Almost two years after the recession officially ended, pronounced pessimism about the economy lingers, according to a new poll conducted for The Hill. It’s worrying for President Obama that voters are especially bleak when asked about their personal circumstances.

Forty-six percent of voters say they feel worse off than they did a year ago, almost three times as many as the 16 percent who feel more affluent. Around one-third of voters — 36 percent — say their economic situation has remained essentially unchanged from 12 months ago.

The negative responses to this question may be fed, at least in part, by the rising gas prices that have been seen across the country in recent weeks as well as continuing weakness in the housing market. Similarly, while job growth has returned, its pace has been more anemic than most Americans would like.

Voters don’t want to see taxes increased in response to the growing fiscal pressures facing the nation, the poll also indicated. Instead, they prefer significant cuts to government spending as a remedy.

Presented with a menu of choices to help curb the national debt and federal deficit, almost half of voters — 45 percent — support spending cuts alone, the poll indicates. By contrast, only 13 percent favor an even split between cutting spending and raising revenue through tax increases.

By a margin of two-to-one, respondents also said they would be unwilling to see any increase in their own tax rates even if this helped reduce the debt and deficits. Only 28 percent said they would be prepared to pay higher taxes, while 56 percent said they would not.

The findings of the new poll will be heartening to Republicans and discombobulating to Democrats as the fight over raising the debt ceiling heats up.