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RALEIGH (AP) - More than 73 percent of North Carolina adults support or strongly support an increase in the state's cigarette tax as a way to close a growing budget shortfall, according to an Elon University poll released Friday.

The survey also found support for increasing taxes on beer, liquor and wine. The support for a cigarette tax hike comes despite concerns from the tobacco industry that sustains about 65,000 jobs in North Carolina - the nation's largest tobacco-producing state.

Poll director Hunter Bacot said the so-called "sin taxes" generally see higher support than others because they affect a select group of people. He said that support appears to be growing as the economy worsens.

"People realize that something has to be done, but they're willing to let other people do it before they themselves have to sacrifice," Bacot said, adding that he is a smoker. "They're saying 'go there first.'"

Federal health officials report that about 22.9 percent of North Carolina adults were smokers in 2007. Fittingly, the poll found that 22.7 percent of respondents objected to the cigarette tax increase.

Respondents widely opposed raising sales taxes, income taxes and gas taxes. The Elon poll surveyed 758 North Carolina residents Sunday through Thursday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

State leaders are trying to close a potential $2.2 billion shortfall this year, and Gov. Beverly Perdue's office has estimated a potential $3.6 billion gap between projected revenues and expenses next year.

Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, along with anti-smoking advocates, have been the most vocal proponents of raising the cigarette tax, but lawmakers generally are averse to raising any taxes in a recession. And analysts at the General Assembly calculate doubling the current rate would only generate about $200 million in additional revenue next year.

The poll shows how much the tobacco industry continues to lose support even in the areas where it has a strong base.

Tobacco supporters already suffered a blow earlier this month, when President Barack Obama signed a law that increased the federal tax on a pack of cigarettes from 39 cents to $1 to help fund an expansion of a children's health insurance program. North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, voted for the measure despite personal qualms with the tax. Republican Sen. Richard Burr voted against it.

At 35 cents, North Carolina's tax on cigarettes is still comparatively low, but it was raised from just 5 cents in 2005 after years of grueling debate.

The poll found a largely pessimistic outlook from North Carolina residents. About 51 percent of respondents said they support the $787 billion economic stimulus bill that passed this month, and 54 percent said it will have a positive effect on the economy.

But 44 percent said they expect the national economy to get worse by the end of the year while 41 percent expect the state economy to get worse. Just 32 percent expect the national economy to improve and 29 percent expect economic improvement for the state.