Country's Problems Seen Through Partisan Lens

Gallup News Service ^ | June 18, 2004 | David W. Moore

[RWR8189]

Kerry supporters stress economy, Bush supporters, terrorism

PRINCETON, NJ -- A recent Gallup survey finds three problems dominating Americans' concerns -- the economy, the war in Iraq, and terrorism. Concerns about moral decline are also important to a limited number of Americans. The poll also finds that the relative importance of these issues varies considerably by whether one supports Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry or President George W. Bush in the presidential contest. Kerry supporters are much more concerned about the economy and the war in Iraq, while Bush supporters are much more concerned about terrorism and moral decline in America.

The poll, conducted June 3-6, finds 41% of Americans overall citing some aspect of the economy as the most important problem facing the country. But that percentage is much higher among Kerry supporters (51%) than among Bush supporters (31%).

The difference between the two groups is not as pronounced on the non-economic problems as the economic problems -- 67% of Kerry supporters find some non-economic aspect as the most important problem, compared with a somewhat higher 78% among Bush supporters.

When mentioning specific items, Kerry supporters are much more likely than Bush supporters to mention the general economy (25% to 14%) and jobs or unemployment (17% to 9%). There is little difference between the groups on the other economic issues.

On specific non-economic issues, there are also some major differences. Kerry supporters are much more likely than Bush supporters to mention the situation in Iraq (32% to 19%). But Bush supporters are much more likely to mention terrorism (21% among Bush supporters, 6% among Kerry supporters) and concerns about a moral decline in the country (10% to 1%). Healthcare and education elicit about the same number of responses from each.

[RWR8189]

Gallup Ping

FReepmail me if you want to be on or off the list.

[bayourod]

"A recent Gallup survey finds three problems dominating Americans' concerns -- the economy, the war in Iraq, and terrorism. "

Then obviously people don't vote their concerns. Bush wins on all three (assuming Iraq and Terrorism are separate matters) concerns.

[John Valentine]

I for one am concerned about the tangible, measured, MENTAL decline in America, which correlates to liberal "feel good" educational policies and blatant socialist brainwashing as per the Democrats youth propaganda wing, the teachers' union.

I'd guess that those that think like me are probably about 90% Republican.

[WFTR]

My biggest concern is that we are still sliding into political correctness and the belief that some combination of laws and policies can prevent human tragedy. Everyone wants to see their own pet peeves passed into laws. Few people want to exercise force to give us back our freedom from terrorism. When we entered WWII, the idea was that we would make sacrifices for a few years in order to win the war and then change things back so that we'd have the freedom that we'd always had. Today, people talk about making security impositions a permanent part of our lives. My smallest convenience is more valuable to me than the lives of every member of Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbolla, or any other Muslim terrorist organization. I'm willing to see us do collateral damage to maintain our way of life and save our soldiers from having to do more dangerous missions. I have no interest in living under permanent restrictions. Our goal should be complete destruction of our enemies so that we may keep every bit of our freedom.

WFTR
Bill

[Tamzee]

Kerry supporters are much more concerned about the economy and the war in Iraq, while Bush supporters are much more concerned about terrorism and moral decline in America.

Because Bush supporters know that the economy is doing incredibly well and the war in Iraq was an amazing success and the handover back to its citizens is happening more quickly than in Germany. Kerry supporters are worried about the wrong things because they are being lied to by mainstream media... and they're lapping it up like starving rats.

[exDemMom]

When mentioning specific items, Kerry supporters are much more likely than Bush supporters to mention the general economy (25% to 14%) and jobs or unemployment (17% to 9%).

Interesting. Given that the economy is doing so well and unemployment keeps on dropping, I must interpret support for Kerry on these issues as coming from people who want a bad economy.