Tea Party supporters over all are more likely than the general public to say
their personal financial situation is fairly good or very good. But 55
percent are concerned that someone in their household will be out of a job
in the next year. And more than two-thirds say the recession has been
difficult or caused hardship and major life changes. Like most Americans,
they think the most pressing problems facing the country today are the
economy and jobs.

But while most Americans blame the Bush administration or Wall Street for
the current state of the American economy, the greatest number of Tea Party
supporters blame Congress.

They do not want a third party and say they usually or almost always vote
Republican. The percentage holding a favorable opinion of former President
George W. Bush, at 57 percent, almost exactly matches the percentage in the
general public that holds an unfavorable view of him.

Dee Close, a 47-year-old homemaker in Memphis, said she was worried about a
"drift" in the country. "Over the last three or four years,
I've realized
how immense that drift has been away from what made this country great," Ms.
Close said.

Yet while the Tea Party supporters are more conservative than Republicans on
some social issues, they do not want to focus on those issues: about 8 in 10
say that they are more concerned with economic issues, as is the general
public.

When talking about the Tea Party movement, the largest number of respondents
said that the movement's goal should be reducing the size of government,
more than cutting the budget deficit or lowering taxes.

And nearly three-quarters of those who favor smaller government said they
would prefer it even if it meant spending on domestic programs would be cut.

But in follow-up interviews, Tea Party supporters said they did not want to
cut Medicare or Social Security -- the biggest domestic programs, suggesting
instead a focus on "waste."

Some defended being on Social Security while fighting big government by
saying that since they had paid into the system, they deserved the benefits.

Others could not explain the contradiction.

"That's a conundrum, isn't it?" asked Jodine White, 62, of Rocklin, Calif.
"I don't know what to say. Maybe I don't want smaller government. I guess I
want smaller government and my Social Security." She added, "I didn't look
at it from the perspective of losing things I need. I think I've changed my
mind."



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