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American Voices: Snakes, Economy Concerning Americans; Clark Popular Despite Later Entry
Aired September 16, 2003 - 14:48 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It's time for "American Voices," our weekly look what's on your mind. Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll joins us with some answers.
Frank, let's talk about terrorism, Iraq, California and Isabel dominating the news. What's really bothering Americans?
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Well you know, Kyra, I just thought about it: snakes. We have asked Americans what's your greatest fear. You showed us the upcoming thing on snakes. That's actually Americans' No. 1 fear more than anything else. I thought I'd give you that little free tidbit.
When it comes to more a little more seriously what's the most important problem facing the country, it's not snakes or anything along those lines. It's not terrorism, it's not the recall election. We're back to the economy, stupid. This happens every month when we ask Americans what's bothering them and it's still there.
We got 26 percent who say the economy, another 15 percent jobs. Put those two together have you well over 40 percent who mention an aspect of it. Notice that only 12 percent mention terrorism and only 11 percent Iraq, the war in Iraq. So we've really got the American public still focused on when we ask them the economy.
And look at this. When we say rate the economy, which we do every month, Americans have actually become more negative rather than positive. We track this month by month, the percentage who say it's good or excellent is now up to -- well down to 21 percent. The percent who say it's poor is up to 30 percent. And, Kyra, that's more negative than we've seen over the last several months.
This hasn't escaped the attention of the presidential candidates. No doubt they'll continue to focus on because it it's still a real problem for Americans.
PHILLIPS: Frank, it looks like the U.S. Supreme Court is now going to get involved in the California recall. How is the court faring since its controversial intervention in the presidential race of 2000?
NEWPORT: Excellent question, not good at all. It's ratings are actually low as we've seen since before that rating, 52 percent overall. And here's the fascinating point, Republicans, 55 percent favorable, Democrats 45. So there's a rift already. Republicans -- let me summarize this -- like the court more than Democrats. And if the court takes on that decision and overturns the appeals court, i.e., says the recall should go on, I think this rift will get even bigger, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, and I've got to ask you about Wesley Clark. As you know the big news today we're talking about he's supposed to come out tomorrow, announce he's going to run for the presidency. What are the numbers saying about him?
NEWPORT: Well we put him in the last CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup Poll for Democrats and said what if he runs? Where would he come in? He's actually doing pretty well for an unannounced candidate. This is as of last week. Tightly bunched here among Democrats, Gephardt, Dean, Lieberman and Kerry all within the statistical margin of error.
But Clark came in with 10 percent of the vote and that was on the hypothetical chance that he might announce which as you just said apparently he's going to do now. So I would say he's competitive, Kyra. That's the bottom line.
John Edwards, by the way, who announced formally today, below Clark. He's only at 5 percent at this point.
PHILLIPS: All right, our Frank Newport. Thanks, Frank.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Clark Popular Despite Later Entry>
Aired September 16, 2003 - 14:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It's time for "American Voices," our weekly look what's on your mind. Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll joins us with some answers.
Frank, let's talk about terrorism, Iraq, California and Isabel dominating the news. What's really bothering Americans?
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Well you know, Kyra, I just thought about it: snakes. We have asked Americans what's your greatest fear. You showed us the upcoming thing on snakes. That's actually Americans' No. 1 fear more than anything else. I thought I'd give you that little free tidbit.
When it comes to more a little more seriously what's the most important problem facing the country, it's not snakes or anything along those lines. It's not terrorism, it's not the recall election. We're back to the economy, stupid. This happens every month when we ask Americans what's bothering them and it's still there.
We got 26 percent who say the economy, another 15 percent jobs. Put those two together have you well over 40 percent who mention an aspect of it. Notice that only 12 percent mention terrorism and only 11 percent Iraq, the war in Iraq. So we've really got the American public still focused on when we ask them the economy.
And look at this. When we say rate the economy, which we do every month, Americans have actually become more negative rather than positive. We track this month by month, the percentage who say it's good or excellent is now up to -- well down to 21 percent. The percent who say it's poor is up to 30 percent. And, Kyra, that's more negative than we've seen over the last several months.
This hasn't escaped the attention of the presidential candidates. No doubt they'll continue to focus on because it it's still a real problem for Americans.
PHILLIPS: Frank, it looks like the U.S. Supreme Court is now going to get involved in the California recall. How is the court faring since its controversial intervention in the presidential race of 2000?
NEWPORT: Excellent question, not good at all. It's ratings are actually low as we've seen since before that rating, 52 percent overall. And here's the fascinating point, Republicans, 55 percent favorable, Democrats 45. So there's a rift already. Republicans -- let me summarize this -- like the court more than Democrats. And if the court takes on that decision and overturns the appeals court, i.e., says the recall should go on, I think this rift will get even bigger, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, and I've got to ask you about Wesley Clark. As you know the big news today we're talking about he's supposed to come out tomorrow, announce he's going to run for the presidency. What are the numbers saying about him?
NEWPORT: Well we put him in the last CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup Poll for Democrats and said what if he runs? Where would he come in? He's actually doing pretty well for an unannounced candidate. This is as of last week. Tightly bunched here among Democrats, Gephardt, Dean, Lieberman and Kerry all within the statistical margin of error.
But Clark came in with 10 percent of the vote and that was on the hypothetical chance that he might announce which as you just said apparently he's going to do now. So I would say he's competitive, Kyra. That's the bottom line.
John Edwards, by the way, who announced formally today, below Clark. He's only at 5 percent at this point.
PHILLIPS: All right, our Frank Newport. Thanks, Frank.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Clark Popular Despite Later Entry>
