Rick Perry and Herman Cain | Credit: Gage Skidmore - Flickr

A Washington Post/ABC News poll released Wednesday morning found that Americans are divided on tax plans proposed by two of the leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, businessman Herman Cain and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The poll found that a majority of Republican voters favor the flat tax but a majority oppose Cain’s plan.

The poll found only 36 percent of the total population surveyed favoring Cain’s “9-9-9 plan.” The plan, which has become one of the cornerstones of Cain’s campaign, would establish the federal income tax and the corporate tax rate at flat 9 percent rates while adding a national sales tax also set at 9 percent.  A majority of those surveyed -- 56 percent -- have an unfavorable view of Cain’s plan.

Cain’s plan is upside down among Republicans, with 50 percent seeing it as unfavorable; 41 percent of the Republicans surveyed favor the plan. Since winning the Presidency 5 straw poll in Orlando last month, Cain has rocketed to the top of some national polls and is leading in some crucial early states, including Iowa and South Carolina.

The plan garners lower marks with voters outside the GOP. Thirty-five percent of Democrats favor the plan, while 61 percent see it as unfavorable. Cain’s plan registers similar marks from independents, with 35 percent favoring it and 58 percent opposing it.

The flat tax -- backed by various presidential candidates over the years including publisher Steve Forbes in his bid for the Republican nominations in 1996 and 2000, and once and future California Gov. Jerry Brown in his bid for the Democratic nod in 1992 -- receives higher marks. Forbes announced earlier this week that he is backing Perry for the Republican nomination.

Forty-seven percent of those surveyed favor a flat tax, while 48 percent see it unfavorably. The idea does better with Republicans than other voters. A majority of Republican voters in the poll -- 56 percent -- back the idea; 41 percent of them view it unfavorably. Independents are less sold on the flat tax, with 46 percent favoring it and 48 percent seeing it as unfavorable. The idea is less popular among Democrats, with 40 percent favoring the flat tax and 56 percent opposing it.

The poll of 1,019 American adults was taken Oct. 19-23 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percent.

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.