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CNN Live At Daybreak
America's Voice: What's Bothering You?
Aired September 16, 2003 - 06:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We've been talking a lot about Iraq this morning, Hurricane Isabel and the California recall. But what is it that's really bothering Americans these days?
Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport knows. He's live with our answer.
Frank, what's tops on the list this morning?
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, Carol, you just mentioned everything that's in the news when it comes down to it. We just finished asking Americans what's the most important problem facing the country. And the answer is -- drum roll -- the economy. And that really hasn't changed month after month when we ask this question at Gallup.
Look at the results: 26 percent of Americans spontaneously say it's the economy; another 15 percent specifically mentioned unemployment and jobs. And you put those two together and you're already over 40 percent.
Then down the list comes terrorism: 12 percent. The war in Iraq: 11 percent. And then ethics and integrity -- that's a perennial on the list: 8 percent say that's the biggest problem facing the country.
Speaking of the economy, Carol, I hate to be the bearer of bad news. We're just not seeing Americans getting any more optimistic at all. This is our question: "Rate the U.S. economy." That red line is the bad line, the percent who rate it poor, and that's jumped back up to 30 percent. Only 21 percent now, way down here, say the economy is excellent or good. We're just not seeing that Americans are becoming any more positive about what's happening economically -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK, so it looks like the Supreme Court will get involved in another election -- of course, the California recall. So, how is that court faring after the last election controversy?
NEWPORT: Not very well. In fact, we've been tracking Americans' views of the Supreme Court. Overall, 52 percent, and that's as low as we've seen it since before the 2000 election. But look at the partisan split here. This is favorable/unfavorable opinion of the Supreme Court, Carol. Notice that Republicans are more positive -- we just finished this incidentally -- 55 percent a favorable opinion. Democrats, 45. Your desk just noted the potential partisan ball that will be thrown to the Supreme Court if they decide to handle it, but look at the differences. Republicans like them. If they do something about the election, it's probably going to make it even more partisan than we've been seeing -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Of course, Bill Clinton has involved himself in the recall election, so we were wondering how Bill Clinton was doing in the eyes of Americans.
NEWPORT: Hey, he's recovering a little. His image suffered when he left office.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
NEWPORT: He was down in the 40 percent range approval. He left, you know, on a bad note with all of the pardons -- Marc Rich and all of those. But look where he's been coming back up. He's above the 50 percent point, Carol. Good news for Mr. Clinton: 54 percent our latest favorable rating on the former chief executive.
COSTELLO: Yes, maybe he'll run for Senate, who knows? Thank you. Frank Newport live in Princeton, New Jersey for us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired September 16, 2003 - 06:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We've been talking a lot about Iraq this morning, Hurricane Isabel and the California recall. But what is it that's really bothering Americans these days?
Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport knows. He's live with our answer.
Frank, what's tops on the list this morning?
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, Carol, you just mentioned everything that's in the news when it comes down to it. We just finished asking Americans what's the most important problem facing the country. And the answer is -- drum roll -- the economy. And that really hasn't changed month after month when we ask this question at Gallup.
Look at the results: 26 percent of Americans spontaneously say it's the economy; another 15 percent specifically mentioned unemployment and jobs. And you put those two together and you're already over 40 percent.
Then down the list comes terrorism: 12 percent. The war in Iraq: 11 percent. And then ethics and integrity -- that's a perennial on the list: 8 percent say that's the biggest problem facing the country.
Speaking of the economy, Carol, I hate to be the bearer of bad news. We're just not seeing Americans getting any more optimistic at all. This is our question: "Rate the U.S. economy." That red line is the bad line, the percent who rate it poor, and that's jumped back up to 30 percent. Only 21 percent now, way down here, say the economy is excellent or good. We're just not seeing that Americans are becoming any more positive about what's happening economically -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK, so it looks like the Supreme Court will get involved in another election -- of course, the California recall. So, how is that court faring after the last election controversy?
NEWPORT: Not very well. In fact, we've been tracking Americans' views of the Supreme Court. Overall, 52 percent, and that's as low as we've seen it since before the 2000 election. But look at the partisan split here. This is favorable/unfavorable opinion of the Supreme Court, Carol. Notice that Republicans are more positive -- we just finished this incidentally -- 55 percent a favorable opinion. Democrats, 45. Your desk just noted the potential partisan ball that will be thrown to the Supreme Court if they decide to handle it, but look at the differences. Republicans like them. If they do something about the election, it's probably going to make it even more partisan than we've been seeing -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Of course, Bill Clinton has involved himself in the recall election, so we were wondering how Bill Clinton was doing in the eyes of Americans.
NEWPORT: Hey, he's recovering a little. His image suffered when he left office.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
NEWPORT: He was down in the 40 percent range approval. He left, you know, on a bad note with all of the pardons -- Marc Rich and all of those. But look where he's been coming back up. He's above the 50 percent point, Carol. Good news for Mr. Clinton: 54 percent our latest favorable rating on the former chief executive.
COSTELLO: Yes, maybe he'll run for Senate, who knows? Thank you. Frank Newport live in Princeton, New Jersey for us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
