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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's Voice: Terrorism Concerns

Aired December 23, 2003 - 06:34   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.


HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: Raising the nation's terror alert level to high has put an orange glow on the holiday. And to find out how Americans feel about it, we now turn to Gallup Poll editor-in- chief Frank Newport in Princeton, New Jersey.
Good morning, Frank. And with this level elevated at orange, are Americans more likely now to be concerned?

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, presumably, they are, but you just heard Secretary Ridge say be concerned, but on the other hand don't be concerned and go about your holiday. President Bush said the same thing.

What we can tell you is that terrorism before this alert had been at a very low level in terms of being at the front of America's consciousness. Every month, we ask Americans: What's the most important problem facing the country? At one point, after 9/11, about half of Americans said terrorism. Now look at how that's changed -- 46, 24, 18 through the Decembers, and now this month only 9 percent spontaneously tell us terrorism is the top problem. It's the economy and other things that seem to be affecting Americans.

So, perhaps they needed their consciousness raised -- that is, the American people, because it certainly wasn't at the front of their mind -- Holly.

FIRFER: And, Frank, let me ask you about the economy. We were talking about the economy has been rebounding lately. But now with this terror alert, is the economy rally likely to continue in 2004? Or might this put a damper on things?

NEWPORT: Well, it could, but we're certainly not seeing the damper right now. We just released our latest UBS Gallup index of investor optimism. This is very important. These are people with investable assets that we track every month. This is their optimism level, and this is high over here. That was the boom. It had fallen down. But if you look on the right-hand side there, look how it's come back up. It's now at 104. And so, optimism among investors this month is as high as it's been going all the way back to the spring of 2002.

So, at least at this point, all indicators, all polling suggests that Americans are very positive about the economy going into the New Year.

FIRFER: Good news to hear. OK, let's turn to the fun stuff. Kids always beg to open presents on Christmas Eve. Some have to wait until Christmas Day. So, who opens presents and when? And do you wait until Christmas morning or Christmas Eve, Frank?

NEWPORT: Well, our family has always done it Christmas morning, nary a Christmas Eve present in the Newport family.

FIRFER: Oh, well.

NEWPORT: But we're out there investigating. Gallup is asking Americans these questions, and here's what we found. We're in the mainstream -- the Newport family. Sixty-five percent of Americans say it's Christmas Day, just 21 percent say they open on Christmas Eve, about 12 percent say both.

By the way, 95 percent of Americans say they celebrate Christmas. That's even more than our Christians, and we've got a lot of people perhaps in a more secular fashion celebrating Christmas.

One other burning question, Holly, that I wanted to give you the answer to here: Do you like to ask for presents and get what you ask for? Or do you like a total surprise? Now, some people filled out like a bridal registry and said give me this. But Americans like to be surprised. For those of you still buying presents out there, two- thirds said that's what they want. Just 29 percent said they want to make a list to get just what they ask for.

FIRFER: I like to be surprised, Frank.

All right, last question for you. It's a football fan's favorite time of year. There are so many bowl games on. How many people do you think are going to be in front of the TV during the holidays watching those football games? And how many people might take a bath?

NEWPORT: Well, many, many will be watching football. It used to be baseball was America's pastime. We just asked Americans what's your favorite sport to watch? And this just shows how dominant football is in our culture, top of mind. Overwhelming Americans, 37 percent, way beats anything else, tell us that football is the No. 1 spot.

So, in answer to your question, I think there will be lots and lots of people watching football over the next several weeks -- Holly.

FIRFER: As I will. Thank you so much, Frank Newport. Happy holidays to you.

NEWPORT: Thank you.

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 December 23, 2003 - 06:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: Raising the nation's terror alert level to high has put an orange glow on the holiday. And to find out how Americans feel about it, we now turn to Gallup Poll editor-in- chief Frank Newport in Princeton, New Jersey.
Good morning, Frank. And with this level elevated at orange, are Americans more likely now to be concerned?

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, presumably, they are, but you just heard Secretary Ridge say be concerned, but on the other hand don't be concerned and go about your holiday. President Bush said the same thing.

What we can tell you is that terrorism before this alert had been at a very low level in terms of being at the front of America's consciousness. Every month, we ask Americans: What's the most important problem facing the country? At one point, after 9/11, about half of Americans said terrorism. Now look at how that's changed -- 46, 24, 18 through the Decembers, and now this month only 9 percent spontaneously tell us terrorism is the top problem. It's the economy and other things that seem to be affecting Americans.

So, perhaps they needed their consciousness raised -- that is, the American people, because it certainly wasn't at the front of their mind -- Holly.

FIRFER: And, Frank, let me ask you about the economy. We were talking about the economy has been rebounding lately. But now with this terror alert, is the economy rally likely to continue in 2004? Or might this put a damper on things?

NEWPORT: Well, it could, but we're certainly not seeing the damper right now. We just released our latest UBS Gallup index of investor optimism. This is very important. These are people with investable assets that we track every month. This is their optimism level, and this is high over here. That was the boom. It had fallen down. But if you look on the right-hand side there, look how it's come back up. It's now at 104. And so, optimism among investors this month is as high as it's been going all the way back to the spring of 2002.

So, at least at this point, all indicators, all polling suggests that Americans are very positive about the economy going into the New Year.

FIRFER: Good news to hear. OK, let's turn to the fun stuff. Kids always beg to open presents on Christmas Eve. Some have to wait until Christmas Day. So, who opens presents and when? And do you wait until Christmas morning or Christmas Eve, Frank?

NEWPORT: Well, our family has always done it Christmas morning, nary a Christmas Eve present in the Newport family.

FIRFER: Oh, well.

NEWPORT: But we're out there investigating. Gallup is asking Americans these questions, and here's what we found. We're in the mainstream -- the Newport family. Sixty-five percent of Americans say it's Christmas Day, just 21 percent say they open on Christmas Eve, about 12 percent say both.

By the way, 95 percent of Americans say they celebrate Christmas. That's even more than our Christians, and we've got a lot of people perhaps in a more secular fashion celebrating Christmas.

One other burning question, Holly, that I wanted to give you the answer to here: Do you like to ask for presents and get what you ask for? Or do you like a total surprise? Now, some people filled out like a bridal registry and said give me this. But Americans like to be surprised. For those of you still buying presents out there, two- thirds said that's what they want. Just 29 percent said they want to make a list to get just what they ask for.

FIRFER: I like to be surprised, Frank.

All right, last question for you. It's a football fan's favorite time of year. There are so many bowl games on. How many people do you think are going to be in front of the TV during the holidays watching those football games? And how many people might take a bath?

NEWPORT: Well, many, many will be watching football. It used to be baseball was America's pastime. We just asked Americans what's your favorite sport to watch? And this just shows how dominant football is in our culture, top of mind. Overwhelming Americans, 37 percent, way beats anything else, tell us that football is the No. 1 spot.

So, in answer to your question, I think there will be lots and lots of people watching football over the next several weeks -- Holly.

FIRFER: As I will. Thank you so much, Frank Newport. Happy holidays to you.

NEWPORT: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.