Who's to Blame for Unemployment Benefits Lapse? Voters Say Trump, GOP and Democrats Almost Equally

President Donald Trump, the Democratic Party and the GOP have received almost equal blame for failing to pass a new coronavirus relief package before the $600-a-week jobless benefit expired, according to a new poll.

Thirty-nine percent said Trump and the Republicans in Congress were the ones to blame for the lapse in the additional unemployment benefit, while 40 percent blamed congressional Democrats. Among the remaining percentages, 18 percent said both equally and 3 percent said neither.

The poll, which was conducted by CNBC/Change Research, surveyed 2,701 likely voters in the battleground states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from August 7 to 9. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.

In March, Congress approved the $600 federal benefit as the coronavirus pandemic was forcing many businesses to close. That benefit, which supplements state unemployment payments, expired at the end of July, and lawmakers on both sides failed to agree on legislation to extend it.

Looking at political party affiliation, the poll found 78 percent of Democrats blaming Trump and congressional Republicans for failing to pass an extension, while 19 percent placed the blame on both parties equally. Eighty percent of Republicans blamed the Democrats in Congress, and 11 percent blamed both sides equally.

The poll also found that 40 percent of independents blamed Democrats and 31 percent blamed Trump and Republicans in Congress. Twenty-five percent of independents blamed both parties.

Following lawmakers' failure to extend the $600 benefit, the White House reportedly offered to extend it but at $400 per week, which would last until December.

The poll asked respondents if they thought $400 was too much, not enough or the right amount. According to the poll, 23 percent of respondents in the six battleground states said that it was too much, 33 percent said it was not enough, and 31 percent said it was about the right amount. The remaining 13 percent said they were not sure.

Additionally, the poll found Trump trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in each of the six battleground states. Biden's largest lead was in Florida (50-44 percent), followed by Michigan (48-43 percent).

In the other states, Biden leads 45-44 percent in Arizona, 48-47 percent in North Carolina, 48-44 percent in Pennsylvania and 47-43 percent in Wisconsin.

Newsweek reached out to the Democratic and Republican national committees for comments but did not receive a response in time for publication.