An abrupt change in the opinion of 10-12% of the electorate can in principle have big consequences, says William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

ECONOMIST: Of polls and presidents

"The American people want the federal government to reduce spending without touching actual programs, " wrote William Galston a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, in a blog post this week.

CNN: Spending cut politics: D��j�� vu all over again

"The American people want the federal government to reduce spending without touching actual programs, " wrote William Galston a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, in a blog post last week.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS