New Poll Shows Voters Have Strong Interest in Global Affairs

[FailureToCommunicate]

Last edited Tue Oct 23, 2012, 10:42 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: prnewswire

"Voters in the pivotal battleground states of Ohio and Florida show strong interest in global security issues, and want to hear the candidates’ views on defense, Iran and terrorism in the final presidential debate, according to a new poll conducted jointly by leading Democratic and Republican pollsters for Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

While the poll confirms conventional wisdom about the economy as the number one issue in this race, the survey finds that national security is a key issue for many voters in both states – almost as decisive a factor as the federal deficit and more important than taxes.

As the candidates head into the critical debate on foreign policy on Monday, Oct. 22, the poll shows voters have mixed views on US global engagement and are split almost down the middle on isolationism. Many are worried about the impact of the Arab Spring on US interests.

-snip-

Asked about debate subjects, most voters said they are “very interested” in hearing the candidates’ views on Iran getting nuclear weapons (72% in Florida, 61% in Ohio) and terrorism (69% Florida, 64% Ohio). Interest was lower on non-security issues such as human rights and the economic situation in Europe."

Read more: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/22418/new_poll_shows_voters_have_strong_interest_in_global_affairs.html

---

You might think after the hottest summer on record, people in Ohio and Florida might be a little more concerned about the environment and global climate disruption, but I guess the media too easily sets the agenda. The take away from this survey is at least somewhat positive for citizens' concerns for our place in the global community...

[MrYikes]

1. the other take away

these people are so tired of answering all these questions that they will say anything to get it done and get off the phone.

[ronald dishinger]

2. Spam deleted by SidDithers (MIR Team)

[sofa king]

3. Yeah, except they still don't know where Iraq is.

Or how it differs from its neighbor, Iran. Sort of like how a twelve-year old boy has an interest in cars, but doesn't know how to drive and doesn't know how to get anywhere.

My concern is that one of the candidates is going to come out and offer a geopolitical finger-painting to voters, and some of those voters will like it better than the more accurate sketch, because it's prettier.

[Beartracks]

9. I worry about that, too. Just because they SAY they're interested...

... doesn't mean it's an informed interest. Even a FOX viewer being told that Libyan embassy security was Obama's fault can conclude, "Hell, yeah! What about that security in Binlod... Ben Ga... Bing... uh, Libya?! That's important!"

==============

[dipsydoodle]

10. Quite aside from the fact

they pwobably think that's where Ewoks come from.

[glowing]

4. I think many are concerned of another war.

I have military in my family. They are convinced te pissing match with Iran and Israel's ever insistence on "doing something" is going to lead to another war in another front... And the people who end up fighting those wars are those in the military. They have had 11 years of this shit. They aren't looking forward to another war to fight in.

And kids in FL and OH do sign up for military as an option for making some money, paying for college, and trying to start a decent life. Having another war costs money and takes lived one's away. It's not the Romney boys who volunteer to fight. It's people who decide to do so for patriotism and for economic reasons. (For a family, it's a pay check and benefits and some Vet's assistance after war).

Instead of ratcheting up a new war, we should be creating jobs here in the US for building infrastructure; which our military gets to do abroad now for other nations.

So, yeah, they are interested in security. They don't want another war!

[FailureToCommunicate]

5. Yes, that is one of the strong concerns...

from the study:

"Asked to identify reasons to be interested in foreign affairs, most cited that “situations in other countries can draw the United States into wars,” and that events abroad can affect the prospects for terrorism in the United States."

[ronnie624]

6. "Echoing previous surveys,

the findings show that many voters lack knowledge of some foreign policy issues – they are more familiar with Britain’s soccer star David Beckham than Prime Minister David Cameron – but they don’t lack interest in global issues."

I'm very skeptical about their level of interest. Anyone can say whatever they want.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. The Republicans used fear to present themselves as heroes that would rescue us,...

....but the tactic has lost it's power and people are sick of war.

Romney is a Bush Era redux of more war. Condi Rice was an expert on the Soviet Union so expect to hear Romney talk about Russia and China as if they are a threat. Then, of course there is Iran which the PNAC Neocons want to attack because they feel it's unfinished business.

[chuckstevens]

8. Color Coded Terror Alerts verses Americans Who have Traveled Abroad

There are two types of Americans who are concerned about global issues. There are the people who were so easily manipulated by the Bush Era Terror alerts (remember how the level would be raised whenever Bush's polls numbers began to fall?) and Americans who have actually traveled abroad and don't have a jingoist view of the world.

We already know who will represent these two views in Monday night's final debate. The question is which view is going to win on November 6, 2012? Will we see a Secretary of State John Kerry or someone of the caliber of Madeline Albright or can we look forward to Secretary of State John Bolton?