Do Voters Want Compromise or Combat? Shutdown Battle Reflects Deep Divide

The last-minute turnabout in Congress that staved off a government shutdown reflects one of the most significant conundrums in American politics: Voters can’t decide if they want their leaders to compromise or to fight.

Most Americans say they are fatigued by political combat and see the inability of Democrats and Republicans to work together as one of the nation’s most severe problems, a variety of polls show. Congress seemed to score a victory for those considerations Saturday with a bipartisan spending deal—and a deal between the House and Senate—even though...