FOX News Poll: Economy, Iraq and Terrorism Top Issues for Midterm Voters

FoxNews ^ | Aug. 31, 2006 | Dana Blanton

[FairOpinion]

Overall, almost one out of four voters says the economy (23 percent) will be the most important issue on their mind when they vote this fall, followed by the situation in Iraq (14 percent) and terrorism (12 percent). Here’s how the remaining issues rank: health care (11 percent), immigration (9 percent), gas prices (8 percent), Social Security (7 percent) and ethics in Washington (6 percent).

For Democrats, the top issues are the economy (26 percent) and Iraq (17 percent). Republicans pick terrorism (22 percent) and the economy (19 percent), with only a few citing Iraq as the main issue deciding their vote (7 percent).

Voters who say the economy is most important are more likely to back the Democratic candidate by 30 percentage points; voters who put Iraq as the main issue are much more likely to vote for the Democrat by 47 points. For terrorism voters, the advantage goes to the Republican by 42 points.

[FairOpinion]

President Bush turned the recession around by the tax cuts, we have a great economy, as a result and people, who think economy is the most important issues are voting Dems by 30 points?!

The Republicans haven't been getting the message out, perception overwhelms reality.

The poll was of registered voters.

[DoughtyOne]

I think they're kidding themselves if they don't think immigration is a top priority for the U.S. public.

[balch3]

gas prices are dropping like a rock. Everything will be okay by election day.

[hsalaw]

Rush had some dumb leftist broad (I'm a woman; I can say that) on his show today who was babbling on about how gas costs so much (but she doesn't have a car because she doesn't need it!), and her elderly neighbor has to choose between buying food or medicine (how the heck can that be with that prescription drug plan, medicare, etc?), and I realized there are a lot of very, very stupid people in this country who believe whatever the media force-feeds them.

[FairOpinion]

UPon continuing reading, there is some good news in this too, more people (48%) think it's "crazy" to announce a withdrawal date to get out of Iraq. I bet the Dems are deeply saddened.

Bush's approval is at 38%.

I really just don't understand what's the matter with people.

President Bush has met some horrific challenges, kept us safe, turned the economy around. What do people want?!

[Marius3188]

If you know thats the key, so does Iran. It wouldn't surprise me if they worked behind the scenes to try to get the prices high for the election to help the Rats.

[FairOpinion]

UPon continuing reading, there is some good news in this too, more people (48%) think it's "crazy" to announce a withdrawal date to get out of Iraq. I bet the Dems are deeply saddened.

Bush's approval is at 38%.

I really just don't understand what's the matter with people.

President Bush has met some horrific challenges, kept us safe, turned the economy around. What do people want?!

[Howlin]

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Aug. 17-21, 2006. N=1,206 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).
					.
"If you had to say, which of these six issues do you think is MOST important for political leaders to concentrate on right now? (1) Fighting terrorism. (2) Strengthening the economy. (3) Dealing with the war in Iraq. (4) Lowering gas prices. (5) Reducing the cost of heath care. OR, (6) Dealing with the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah."
					.
			ALL Adults	Repub- licans	Demo- crats	Indepen- dents
			%	%	%	%
	Fighting terrorism		24	41	12	21
	Dealing with war in Iraq		22	15	29	22
	Strengthening economy		20	16	20	23
	Reducing health care costs		18	11	20	20
	Lowering gas prices		9	8	11	7
	Dealing with Israel, Hezbollah		6	7	7	5
	Unsure		1	2	1	2

[FairOpinion]

Thanks for posting the CBS poll results.

The link to the full FoxNews poll is at the bottom of this article, it's:

http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/FOX_231_rls_web.pdf

[DoughtyOne]

12% of democrats think we should be fighting terrorism.

Imagine if they pooled their mental capacities. They could probably tie their own shoes, although it would probably take in excess of ten minutes.

[Howlin]

CBS News Poll. Aug. 11-13, 2006. N=974 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.
					.
"What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?" Open-ended
					.
			8/11-13/06	7/21-25/06
			%	%
	War in Iraq		28	23
	Terrorism (general)		17	7
	Economy and jobs		11	11
	Gas prices/Heating oil crisis		7	8
	Immigration		4	4
	Foreign policy		3	4
	Defense/Military		3	3
	President Bush		3	3
	Other		20	31
	Unsure		4	6

[Howlin]

Imagine if they get the power back.

[FairOpinion]

The reason Bush's approval numbers are low is mostly because most of the Dems and a large fraction of the independents disapprove. They just don't get it, that if terrorists kill us, nothing else matters.

29-30 Aug 06,
All: approve: 38%, disapp. 56%
Democrats 7% app, 88% disapp,
Republicans 78% app., 16% disapp.
independents 33% app., 58% disapp.

[Gator113]

"Imagine if they get the power back."

No!!! My heart can't take it.

[DoughtyOne]

I understand what you are trying to say and in some important ways I completely agree. I do have to take note that when it comes to overspending, when it comes to the Department of Education and our nation's education system, when it comes to open borders and immigration or even entry policy, I think the democrats never lost control.

Here's just one issue to ponder. At any given time there are somewhere between 10 and 20 thousand Saudi Arabian nationals in our nation on education visas.

After 09/11 and the number of people who hailed from Sauda Arabia that were involved in it, I find the above information to be incredibly unacceptable.

[Howlin]

What's more important that not letting liberals destroy this country?

[FairOpinion]

In reading the actual poll, in a 2008 matchup between Hillary and Giuliani, 9% of Republicans would vote for Hillary !!!!!

And 6% of Republicans would vote for Al Gore, instead of Giuliani!!!!


(on page 5/6 )


The poll also appeared to oversample Dems:
41% Dems, 33% R, and 20% Independents



http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/FOX_231_rls_web.pdf

[DoughtyOne]

Did you even read what I posted to you?

If 19 people could do what they did, don't you find our nation to be incredibly exposed to danger if 10 to 20 thousand Saudi nationals are in our nation on education visas?

What part of that has anything to do with leftists? It's our policies that are being implemented as we speak, and fostering this situation.

Do I want this nation destroyed? Absolutely not. And frankly I see both sides playing chicken with reality.

One wants to surrender to the terrorists, and the other seems to think they can make them our friends by playing nice nice.

[guinnessman]

I heard that today. It was hilarious!

The caller complained about how "people are suffering"

Rush asked her if she was working.

She replied that she was doing fine, but that other people were suffering, like her next door neighbor who had to choose between food and prescription drugs.

Rush asked her, if her neighbor really had to choose between food and prescriptions, why she didn't help her neighbor.

The caller replied that she offers her neighbor support and encouragement.

Rush replied, "No, what I mean is, why don't you buy your neighbor food?"

She replied that she couldn't really afford to do that (contradicting her earlier statement), but the government should help.

[Marius3188]

You bring up the fact that in 06, it will be Independents who decide the election.

I don't see the Repubs, gaining much from them and that might cause some problems for the election.