Polling Shows Economic Issues Most Important in 2004 Election

It wasn’t in The New York Times headlines today, but a close read of the actual polling results from the NYT/CBS November 18-21 nationwide poll shows that issues mattered far more than personal qualities this election cycle, and that economic issues were more important to voters than national security or moral issues.

When asked, “Which was more important to you in deciding how to vote for president—the candidate’s position on the issues, or the candidate’s personal qualities?”– fully 69 percent of voters said that issues mattered more. Further, when actual voters were asked, “Which of these issues would you say mattered most to you in deciding how you voted for President — national security issues, economic issues, or moral issues? “— the plurality of respondents (36 percent) picked economic issues, another 32 percent said national security, and moral issues actually ranked last (26 percent).

Further, the results also showed that most Americans understand that there is a retirement security crisis. Most respondents (51 percent) think that Social Security will NOT have the money to provide them with the benefits they expect. Only 31 percent of voters believe that Social Security system “will have the money available to provide the benefits you expect for your retirement.” No doubt, John Kerry and a number of liberal contenders for federal office were hurt because they failed to present their own plans to save Social Security.