Summary: For the first time since 1992, it appears that there will be an “economic election,” with the economy moving into first place of voters’ concerns for the 2008 presidential election. A poll released by the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation shows that 57 percent of Americans believe that we are in an economic recession, which led to the economy receiving 29 percent of votes (the majority) in the poll asking voters what their top issue was. Until now, the Iraq war was the leading concern of voters and was the major factor in the 2006 elections. Worry about the war is still palpable, as it landed in second place with 23 percent of votes—a drop of 5 percent since October, when the same poll showed the war in first place with 28 percent and the economy in second with 22 percent. Rounding out the top five voter concerns are health care in third with 20 percent, illegal immigration in fourth with 14 percent and terrorism in fifth with 10 percent of the votes (terrorism had been the number one issue in the 2004 presidential election).
Impact on 2008 Election: Democrats seem to be really rallying for this issue, saying that the economy really is in bad shape and should be a main focus of the 2008 presidential election. On the other hand, Republicans seem to be have a more positive outlook on the economy as a whole, with Republican frontrunner candidate Rudy Giuliani recently declaring, “What country has had more success in creating a society of fairness and decency, in creating a society in which people move out of poverty, in which people have social mobility, have a chance to succeed?” Still, both parties are definitely moving away from an election focusing on the war in Iraq—which all now agree needs to start coming to a close—to a campaign that focuses on change and progression. With these new results out, we’ll certainly start to see more of a focus on economy in debates and speeches from the candidates on how they plan on pushing the US out of this economic recession.
Focus Question: Which party do you think this change in voter concern will benefit more—the Democrats, who believe the economy is a facet of the US in need of help and reform, or the Republicans, who have a more optimistic outlook on the situation?
Article Link:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/11/economy.poll.schneider/index.html
