November 12, 2003

Pew Survey on 2004 Political Landscape

The Pew Center’s latest survey gauges trends important for the coming 2004 election. Some snippets:


  • In registered voters the two parties are neck-to-neck: 33% Republican, 34% Democrat, 33% other.
  • Bush ties with an unnamed Democrat for President, but wins by at least 6 points over the current Democratic candidates —- the closest is Gephardt. However, historically this is common at this stage in the campaign.

  • The Gender Gap: men favor Bush 50% - 36%, women favor a Democrat 49% - 38%.
  • "The government should help the needy": 72% Democrats in favor, 39% Republicans.
  • "Corporations are too powerful": 87% Democrats agree, 62% Republicans.
  • "The best way to ensure peace is through military strength": 44% Democrats agree (lowest ever - down 55% from last year), 69% Republicans. Surprisingly, for the first time there is no gender gap on this issue. Also, only 41% college grads agree, which is the lowest so far.
  • Who is Big Brother? 77% are worried about businesses collecting too much information about them, and 57% say the same for the government.
  • "In both 2000 and the current surveys, Democrats do best among the most and least educated groups (those with a post-graduate education and those who did not finish high school), while Bush holds slim margins among those in the middle. "
Posted by Vivek at November 12, 2003 06:29 AM
Comments
Comment #3814

“guarantee every citizen enough to eat and a place to sleep.”
Democrats (81%)
Republicans (46%)

Wow that is really compassionatly conservative!
54% of Republicans support letting people starve in the cold!

Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at November 12, 2003 06:22 PM
Comment #3827

Jake, you realize that even attempted communist countries couldn’t even provide enough to eat and a place to sleep for all their citizens. It is unrealistic.

Posted by: Lance T. Haun at November 13, 2003 03:57 AM
Comment #3828

It is unrealistic to expect any type of government (dictatorship, theocracy, communist state, democracy, etc) to be able to provide food and shelter for everyone. The government should, however, do everything within their power to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have the decent food and decent shelter if they are willing to put forth some minimal amount of effort. A realistic minimum wage and a national healthcare system would both be tremendous steps in this direction.

Posted by: rev_matt at November 13, 2003 09:55 AM
Comment #3830

Vivek,
Great post & info!
Thanks!

Posted by: Joe Stewart at November 13, 2003 10:32 AM
Comment #3831

Lance that is bull. I can name a dozen European countries that do not have starving populations. But this is about attitude. This poll shows that Democrats are much more likely to believe in basic human rights. We are the party of FDR not Newt.

Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at November 13, 2003 01:06 PM
Comment #3855

What’s the news here? a relatively unchallenged incumbent would win against any given candidate in a very contested primary?

Well, of course. People know who the Republican choice is already. What will be truly of note is the attitude towards the candidate that does win.

Posted by: Stephen Daugherty at November 14, 2003 12:32 AM