People still want to tax the rich

A new poll shows that most Americans -- even those making more than $100,000 a year -- still favor raising taxes on the rich.

The survey, by ABC News and The Washington Post, showed that six out of every 10 Americans approve of a tax hike for people making more than $250,000 a year. That is exactly in line with what voters in this month's presidential elections said in exit polls, according to the Post.

Not surprisingly, Democrats were most in favor of new taxes on the wealthy, with 73% supporting such a move. About 63% of independent voters were in support, but 59% of Republicans opposed taxing the rich.

Among those making more than $100,000 a year, 57% support new taxes while 42% are opposed, Politico notes.

In fact, when it came to different ways to cut the federal deficit, taxing the wealthy was the most popular option. Capping deductions on federal income taxes won far less support, even though this move would mostly impact the rich as well. Only 44% of those surveyed favored caps on deductions.

And forget about raising the age for Medicare to 67 from 65. That received only 30% support.

The poll, and others like it, may give a boost to President Obama as the White House and Republicans negotiate a way out of the so-called "fiscal cliff" that threatens to kick in next year as the Bush tax cuts expire.

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