While the White House and Congress look for ways to raise the nation's debt ceiling, three-quarters of Floridians are at least "somewhat wary" of the move, a poll reported Wednesday.

Viewpoint Florida, surveying 826 likely voters, found that 76 percent opposed President Barack Obama's initial call for a "clean" debt-ceiling increase with no corresponding budget cuts.

In more bad news for the president, 57 percent disapproved of Obama's handling of the negotiations. Nearly one in four said they opposed any increase in the debt ceiling on any terms.

The Viewpoint poll appears to bolster the position of Republicans who have taken a hard line on the debt issue.

“This poll reaffirms what House Republicans have been saying all along: We have to get our spending under control," said Sandy Adams, R-Orlando.

"We had a vote on a 'clean' debt ceiling in the House and every Republican voted against giving the president a $2.4 trillion blank check. House Democrats were split 50-50," said George Cecala, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge.

Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, "has been clear that he will only vote for an increase in the debt ceiling if it includes significant spending cuts and serious reforms to ensure that we do not face another debt crisis like this again," said spokesman Michael Mahaffey.

"The people of Florida clearly understand that Congress can’t just give the president a blank check."

Obama has advocated for increased tax revenues from wealthy Americans and businesses, but that position is backfiring with young voters and even Democrats, the Viewpoint poll indicated.

Floridians under the age of 35 were by far most likely to support a "cuts only" plan, with 81 percent of respondents favoring that strategy over a plan with tax increases. Voters aged 18-34 disapproved of Obama’s debt-ceiling performance by a 31-point margin.

Just 4 percent in that age group supported a debt ceiling increase without a deficit reduction plan; 60 percent favored coupling more debt with cutting the deficit.

Posey said those findings jibed with his experience.

"The major credit ratings agencies are looking for a credible plan that involves spending restraint, and young people are rightfully worried about the job market," Cecala related.

Republicans, not surprisingly, heavily disapproved of Obama’s performance on the debt ceiling, but a substantial 36 percent of registered Democrats also disapproved of his work, the poll found.

Overall, just 40 percent of respondents approved of Obama’s handling of the ongoing debt-ceiling negotiations, while 57 percent said they disapproved of his efforts, including 46 percent who strongly disapproved.

Although 76 percent of likely voters are at least somewhat wary of raising the debt ceiling, they are much more divided on how to go about cutting the deficit.

Some 49 percent said Congress should pass a deficit reduction plan that includes only cuts in government spending, while 45 percent preferred a mix of spending cuts and tax increases on businesses and wealthy Americans.

Amid softening support for Obama's position, Republicans stepped up attacks on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who is up for re-election next year.

Buzz Jacobs, spokesman for GOP contender Mike McCalister, said, "Bill Nelson was wrong to reject the 'cut, cap, and balance' approach and is putting Barack Obama over the wants of his Florida constituents, as evidenced by this poll.

"Colonel McCalister, along with the vast majority of Floridians, understands that it's time to substantially cut current spending, cap future spending, and put a balanced budget amendment in place before the debt limit is raised."