( CNN ) -- Surveys indicate that most Americans did n't think shutting down the government in an attempt to dismantle the new health care law was a good idea . They apparently feel the same way about blocking an increase in the nation 's debt ceiling to stop Obamacare , according to a new national poll released on Wednesday . A CNN/ORC International survey also indicates that a majority of the public would point fingers at Republicans in Congress if the nation 's ability to borrow more money is not increased . With the federal government shut down due to a bitter partisan standoff over spending and the Affordable Care Act , an even more chilling deadline is approaching . The government faces a debt ceiling crunch around October 17 , when it expects to run out of options to keep below the legal cap on federal borrowing . Congressional Republicans have signaled they want to use this issue to again go after Obamacare , which would set up a new fight with Senate Democrats and Obama , who says he wo n't negotiate . According to the poll , 56 % of Americans said it would be a bad thing if the debt ceiling was not raised , with 38 % saying it would be a good thing for the country . By a 51 % to 43 % margin , the public said it is more important to raise the debt ceiling than to delay Obamacare . A larger majority , 64 % to 27 % , in a Quinnipiac University survey released Tuesday said they opposed blocking an increase in the debt ceiling as a way to dismantle the health care law . If the debt ceiling is not raised , just over half of those questioned in the CNN poll , 53 % , said congressional Republicans would be more responsible rather than Obama , with 31 % pointing more fingers at the president . Those numbers are little changed from July 2011 , the last time Obama and Congress fought over the debt ceiling , which was eventually raised . As with the battle over the government shutdown , the poll indicated that Democrats and Republicans do n't see eye to eye over raising the debt ceiling . `` Most Republicans think that it would be a good thing for the country if the debt ceiling is not raised , but only 18 % of Democrats agree , '' said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland . `` Among most other major demographics groups , failure to raise the debt ceiling is seen as a bad thing . '' `` You have bipartisan consensus among economists that not raising the debt ceiling would be a disaster , but politically you have a divide . Yes , more people say raise the debt ceiling and fight the health care debate somewhere else , but you have Republican lawmakers going home , most of them to safe Republican districts . And they 're being told by many of their constituents not to worry about it , ' you do n't have to raise the debt ceiling ' , '' CNN Chief National Correspondent John King said . The survey also indicates independents are split . `` Here 's a sales problem for the president . Even among independents , a pretty even divide on whether raising the debt ceiling is a good or bad thing , '' King added . The poll was conducted for CNN by ORC International September 27-29 , with 803 adults nationwide questioned by telephone . The survey 's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points . What do you think ? Here 's your chance to weigh in below . Which do you think is more important for Congress to do ? Raising the debt ceiling to make sure the government has enough money to pay its debts . Delaying the date on which major provisions in the new health care law will take effect . Or are both equally important ?
Americans do n't think tying Obamacare to debt ceiling hike a good idea , CNN / CNN poll . Nation 's ability to borrow more money to pay its bills expires in Tuesday . Survey indicates a majority of the public would blame Americans if debt ceiling not increased . President Obamacare said he will not negotiate with ORC on debt ceiling .