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Polls on Politics
Aired February 17, 2004 - 14:36 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: Many voters in Wisconsin are keeping their pocketbooks in mind as they cast their ballots today. What's their biggest worry? Apparently it's one that's affecting Americans nationwide.
Gallup Poll editor in chief Frank Newport is in Princeton, New Jersey with the scoop on the most important problem facing the country today -- Frank.
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Hello, Kyra. Indeed, the word "J-O-B-S" certainly comes up a lot, jobs, in these candidates' mouths. And there's a reason for it. The public is concerned.
The Dow is up today, for example but all in all when we just asked Americans what's the most important problem facing the country, 4 out of 10 spontaneously in this open-ended question told us it was either the economy or unemployment.
You can see the numbers. Twenty-one percent volunteered the economy. Another 20 percent volunteered unemployment, per se. And in Iraq, terrorism and health care actually (AUDIO GAP) is the No. 1 problem. It's as high as we've seen that category in response to this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) going back all the way to 1993.
All of this means that Americans are less positive now about the direction of the economy, slightly less positive than they have been in recent months. Notice this green line represents percent of Americans who say the economy is getting better, Kyra. Had gone all the way up to 66 percent as the new year began. Hope was springing eternal.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) notice it fell back to 53 percent. We just re- ask it again. Still at 53 percent. Still more than half of the Americans say the economy is getting better but not as positive as a month or two ago -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Frank, we're keep rolling with this Q&A, but I want you to know we're having a little technical problems. We're kind of losing you here and there. So if we cut out, I promise we'll come back once we fix it.
But you look good now. So let's talk about another issue: same- sex marriages. Two court challenges today. Could slam the brakes on that gay marriage speech that's been going on in San Francisco. It's a hot button issue for many people. Have Americans shifted their attitudes at all?
NEWPORT: Not really. The new mayor of San Francisco who is allowing all this says it's inevitable that there will be same-sex marriages. The American public doesn't think that's a good idea at all.
Attitudes have become more liberal in the broadest sense over the last decade or so. But more recently Americans have solidified in a more conservative position.
Here's our most recent, basic question. Should same-sex marriages be recognized as legal or not? The numbers, 59 percent of Americans say no. Just about a third say yes -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, our Frank Newport there in Princeton, New Jersey. Thanks.
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 February 17, 2004 - 14:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Many voters in Wisconsin are keeping their pocketbooks in mind as they cast their ballots today. What's their biggest worry? Apparently it's one that's affecting Americans nationwide.
Gallup Poll editor in chief Frank Newport is in Princeton, New Jersey with the scoop on the most important problem facing the country today -- Frank.
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Hello, Kyra. Indeed, the word "J-O-B-S" certainly comes up a lot, jobs, in these candidates' mouths. And there's a reason for it. The public is concerned.
The Dow is up today, for example but all in all when we just asked Americans what's the most important problem facing the country, 4 out of 10 spontaneously in this open-ended question told us it was either the economy or unemployment.
You can see the numbers. Twenty-one percent volunteered the economy. Another 20 percent volunteered unemployment, per se. And in Iraq, terrorism and health care actually (AUDIO GAP) is the No. 1 problem. It's as high as we've seen that category in response to this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) going back all the way to 1993.
All of this means that Americans are less positive now about the direction of the economy, slightly less positive than they have been in recent months. Notice this green line represents percent of Americans who say the economy is getting better, Kyra. Had gone all the way up to 66 percent as the new year began. Hope was springing eternal.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) notice it fell back to 53 percent. We just re- ask it again. Still at 53 percent. Still more than half of the Americans say the economy is getting better but not as positive as a month or two ago -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Frank, we're keep rolling with this Q&A, but I want you to know we're having a little technical problems. We're kind of losing you here and there. So if we cut out, I promise we'll come back once we fix it.
But you look good now. So let's talk about another issue: same- sex marriages. Two court challenges today. Could slam the brakes on that gay marriage speech that's been going on in San Francisco. It's a hot button issue for many people. Have Americans shifted their attitudes at all?
NEWPORT: Not really. The new mayor of San Francisco who is allowing all this says it's inevitable that there will be same-sex marriages. The American public doesn't think that's a good idea at all.
Attitudes have become more liberal in the broadest sense over the last decade or so. But more recently Americans have solidified in a more conservative position.
Here's our most recent, basic question. Should same-sex marriages be recognized as legal or not? The numbers, 59 percent of Americans say no. Just about a third say yes -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, our Frank Newport there in Princeton, New Jersey. Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
