A series of polls from the networks (ABC/WaPo, CBS, NBC/WSJ), Pew and Gallup have given us a broad picture of where the public is at with our debt crisis (and yes, they see it as a crisis.)

CBS poll

Some highlights from the polls:



CBS

• CBS: 71% shun GOP handling of debt crisis

• CBS: Support for debt ceiling increase doubles

• CBS: Compromise should include tax increases (66%)

• CBS: Only 3% want tax increases alone

• CBS: Three in four Americans would prefer to see an agreement they do not fully support than for the U.S. to go into default (14%)

CBS poll

Pew

• Pew: Republicans see no crisis

• Pew: The public expresses far more confidence in President Obama than it does in congressional leaders of both parties

Gallup

• Gallup: 2/3 of Americans would like government officials to agree to a compromise plan

• Gallup: Fewer than 3 in 10 want lawmakers who share their views to hold out for their desired plan.

• Gallup: A majority of Republicans, independents, and Democrats favor reaching a compromise

ABC-WaPo poll

ABC/Washington Post

•ABC/WaPo: Americans by 67-24 percent put the GOP ahead when it comes to looking out for the interests of large business corporations.

• ABC/WaPo: Obama leads the GOP by 18 points in looking out for middle-class Americans, 53-35 percent

•ABC/WaPo: 58% of Republicans say their leaders are not doing enough to strike a deal, up from 42 percent in March

•ABC/WaPo: Majorities of Americans see both President Obama and congressional Republicans as not willing enough to compromise in their budget negotiations, but the public views the GOP leaders as particularly intransigent

•ABC/WaPo: Among independents, 79 percent say Republicans aren’t willing enough to make a deal, while 62 percent say the same of Obama

NBC/WSJ

NBC/WSJ poll

•NBC/WSJ: A plurality of Americans—38%—said the debt ceiling should be raised, against 31% who said it shouldn't. A month ago 39% said the debt limit shouldn't be raised, while 28% said it should.

•NBC/WSJ: While 62% of all Americans, and 61% of political independents, said the GOP should agree to raise taxes to get a deal on the debt ceiling, 46% of Republicans—a clear plurality—and 58% of tea-party supporters said the GOP should make no such deal. Congressional Republicans face the choice between an activist base that energized their landslide victory in last year's midterm elections and political independents, who tend to decide elections in presidential election years.

•NBC/WSJ: 58% said they supported Mr. Obama's approach, a $4 trillion deficit-reduction plan over 10 years that would cut federal spending, including on Medicare, and raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy. In comparison, 36% said they backed the leading proposal among congressional Republicans.

The bottom line from the WSJ:

Republicans who have refused to compromise with President Barack Obama to avoid a U.S. debt default are heeding the anti-tax wishes of their conservative base but are also risking isolation from many independent voters as public opinion shifts in favor of getting a deal done, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds.

While the public resists entitlement cuts, the pressure for the House GOP to compromise grows every day. They'll be looking for a face-saving out on every statement they make. And it is for that reason the Senate is where the action is, at least for now. It's also why the likely scenario is passing something in the House with a mixture of D and R votes.

Now, aren't you glad Nancy Pelosi is still leader?