NBC poll: 65 percent prefer fiscal cliff compromise

>> we are willing to make sure that everyone in america sacrifices. even though who have been struggling.

>> if speaker boehner exercises the leadership and brings in a balanced program, he can pass that don't do it by getting the support of within your own party. you need reach out to democrats.

>> to get something through the house and the senate. it's going to take both. the revenue and the spending cuts.

>> house members are willing to compromise to avert the fiscal cliff. what are the people at home thinking of their actions. we have a pri view for a poll that debuts tonight. part of that is compromising what folks want to see from the lawmakers.

>> a lot of americans want to see compromise. according to the poll, 65% want a compromise balanced deal to reduce the deficit. even if they have to reduce the entitlement program like medicare and social security and the republicans on have to support increase in tax rates for the wealthy. of course you were playing a lot of clips from people open to compromise. it does seem to be the broad parameter that want a balanced deal. that's what john boehner and president obama are currently arguing about. par are it's interesting, mark. you and the team noted the confusion, if you want. maybe because of the leadership. the headlines and the ap has the headline fiscal cliffs appear to be stalled and the hill's headline edge towards the deal and deficit reduction negotiations. are both true?

>> both are true and you have to look at the totality of the story. today is wednesday and you and i have been having this conversation for a while. you have some type of deal as we are headed to this weekend. this is about the give-and-take. we saw the white house who reported they went from at one point $6 trillion in revenue that they wanted. down to 1.4. i wouldn't be surprise fed that continues to go down. the most important thing as we pointed out, both sides continue to talk. even if the phone calls right now are not all that pleasant, even if they are tense, the fact that they are still talking is a pretty good sign that a deal can get done.

>> realistically would we get to the point where they would not talk? especially on the tax rate issue alo alone. the evidence from the polling and point it a solid proof of at least what the american people expect on that issue.

>> that's right. a lot of the pessimism comes from the debt ceiling deal when john boehner walked away and stopped returning some of those phone calls . i think there is skepticism because of that past experience in 2011 . as you pointed out, there seems to be more of an appetite for compromise and we just came out of a presidential election where pop campaigned on the balanced deal and won decisively.

>> thank you, mark. great pleasure