|
McCain Leads on Defense/Homeland Security, Foreign Policy, Obama Leads on Environment, Most Domestic Issues, Economy
Most People Do Not Have a Very Good Understanding of the Candidates’ Different Policy Proposals
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--Oct
1 2008 --A new Harris Poll measures the public’s perceptions
of which candidate would do better in handling sixteen different
policy issues. It finds that John McCain has a sizable lead on
defense, homeland security and keeping the U.S. safe from terrorism,
and modest leads on Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, Iran, Russia
and gun control. Barack Obama has a substantial lead on the
environment, education, health care and jobs. He also has a clear
but not large advantage on the economy, gasoline prices, energy
policy and inflation.
However, this Harris Poll also shows
that most people recognize that they do not have a very good
understanding of the differences between the candidates’ policies on
the sixteen issues covered in this poll.
These are the results of a Harris Poll
of 2,315 adults who were surveyed online between September 15 and
22, 2008. The most interesting findings of this new poll include:
More adults believe John McCain would be
the better of the two main candidates in handling defense, homeland
security and keeping the U.S. safe from terrorism (he leads by 18
points), Afghanistan (+9), the Middle East (+8), Russia (+8), Iran
(+7), gun control (+5) and Iraq (+5).
Barack Obama is seen as the better of the two candidates on handling
the environment (+22), education (+19), healthcare (+16), jobs and
employment (+12), the economy (+10), gas prices (+8), energy policy
(+7), and inflation (+5).
Neither candidate has a significant advantage on trade or taxes.
Only between 23 percent and 36 percent of the public say they
understand “very well” the different policy proposals of the two.
So What?
People make their choices and cast their
votes for many reasons both conscious and unconscious. Many voters
think their decisions are based on the candidates’ positions on the
issues when they are not; it is a way of rationalizing their
preferences. Furthermore, as this poll shows, most people have only
a vague sense of the policies that candidates propose.
Nevertheless, it is clearly true that
some issues do influence voter choices – whether or not they are
well informed – and that many people have strong feelings that one
candidate would handle an issue better or worse than the other
candidate.
In this presidential election John
McCain should do better when the media headlines and the election
debates focus on his strengths, defense, Iraq, the war on terror and
foreign policy, while Barack Obama should make gains when the news
is mostly about the economy and domestic issues.
Methodology
This Harris Poll® was conducted online
within the United States between September 15 and 22, 2008 among
2,315 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex,
race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted
where necessary to bring them into line with their actual
proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also
used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online. Full data
tables and methodology for this study can be found at
www.harrisinteractive.com
These statements conform to the
principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
J34912
Q626, 631
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is a global leader in
custom market research. With a long and rich history in multimodal
research, powered by our science and technology, we assist clients
in achieving business results. Harris Interactive serves clients
globally through our North American, European and Asian offices and
a network of independent market research firms. For more
information, please visit
www.harrisinteractive.com.
Harris Interactive Inc. 10/08
InvestorIdeas.com Disclaimer: Issuers of press releases are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Would you like to see your news and articles here? GO>>;
|
