Poll: Majority back Obama's economic plan

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A broad swath of U.S. adults in a recent poll indicated disapproval of federal efforts to address the economy, although many were hopeful that will change.

In a Washington Post-ABC News poll, 82 percent of the respondents indicated the country is "headed pretty seriously off on the wrong track," the Post reported Wednesday.

More than 70 percent, including Democrats, Republicans and independents, indicated disapproval of current federal strategies to right the economy. But a majority -- 55 percent -- indicated approval of President-elect Barack Obama's response to the economic crisis so far.

Ten percent indicated they felt Obama was "on the wrong track" the Post said. In comparison 24 percent indicated approval over President George Bush's handling of the economy.

While nearly 66 percent indicated approval of an economic stimulus package, 90 percent showed concern over the ballooning federal deficit. When asked to consider a larger deficit as the part of the price for a stimulus package, support for a stimulus bill dropped to 47 percent, the Post said.

The Dec. 11-14 survey of 1,003 adults carries a plus or minus margin of error of three percentage points.