Poll: Slimmer majority sees too much government reach

{mosads}Gallup has consistently found over the last two decades — with exceptions early in former President Clinton’s first term and shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — that Americans generally believe government is trying to do too much.  

People in the United States were mostly likely to think government was too involved when Clinton and President Obama, both Democrats, were in office.

The issue does break down starkly on partisan lines. Eight in 10 Republicans think government is doing too much, compared to around one in four Democrats. 

Independents are roughly twice as likely — 62 percent to 29 percent — to think government is going too far instead of not far enough.