Just how much did the fiscal-cliff debate hurt the GOP? A lot. Politically attuned Republicans ought to consider the damage already wrought as they plan strategy for the next round, instead of getting giddy about a government default.
While the fiscal cliff did not command as much attention as some other issues, voters were engaged at a significant level. …
The results of the ultimate accord were not particularly popular, with voters divided. … Republicans, no doubt, thought that the public ambivalence about the plan created space for them to oppose it. It didn’t, and the GOP ended up with a big black eye. [cont.]
Mark Mellman
See also: Fiscal cliff polls