There is a huge partisan divide on the question. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Democrats agree with the president’s insistence that failure to pass a bill now means catastrophe, while 64% of Republicans do not. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 32% say Obama’s right, but 51% don’t agree (see crosstabs).

A plurality of women agree with the president while a plurality of men disagree. Those who earn less than $40,000 a year lean in Obama’s direction while those who earn $60,000 to $100,000 lean the other way. By a 47% to 40% margin, investors reject the notion that inaction will lead to catastrophe.