More From The Heartland
The Allstate/National Journal survey released today, the first of four in a series, explores the financial stress and concerns of Americans as the nation experiences the worst economic decline since the Great Depression. Atlantic Media political director Ron Brownstein explained during a breakfast this a.m. at the Watergate that the goal of the polls is to "to explore the way people actually live the economy today" -- not simply to gauge reaction to market events.
Edward Reilly, CEO Americas of FD Int'l Limited, which conducted the poll, said the numbers reveal that unlike during other recessions, this latest crisis has implications for citizens across the socioeconomic spectrum.
"This is affecting everybody and people at the higher end are as anxious about their security as those on the lower end," Reilly said.
Brownstein also noted that given the broad worry, Pres. Obama has built support for his presidency among income groups and categories of the workforce formerly thought to be less apt to back a Dem policy agenda.
"Obama is making real inroads among a variety of high status groups that before 2008 we were more likely to include as part of the Republican coalition," Brownstein said.
For example, those ID'd as self employed gave Obama a 58% approval rating, middle managers registered a 59% approval rating and senior business managers (those men and women occupying America's corner offices) offered a 53% approval rating.
But Brownstein cautioned that an important question remains. Can Obama hold the support of his expanding coalition of supporters by pursuing an agenda that expands govt's involvement in solving economic problems?
A few items of note in the poll:
-- When asked if in the last five years the respondent had experienced an extended period of 30 days or more in which he or she lost a job or suffered significant decline in income, 37% said yes, 62% said no and 2% didn't know or refused to answer.
-- Sixty percent said they were very or somewhat confident that they would maintain their current standard of living, while 37% said they were not too or not at all confident.
-- Participants were asked if they trust Obama or cong. GOPers to develop solutions to the nation's economic challenges; 55% answered Obama, 26% said Congress, 3% said both, 12% said neither and 5% didn't know or refused to respond.
-- Health care (17%) and jobs (17%) topped the list of issues that respondents said will concern them most over the next six months. Saving for or paying for retirement (13%), the cost of gas and home utilities (13%), paying for education (13%) and paying the monthly mortgage followed (10%). Home value (7%) and credit card debt (5%) rounded out the list.
-- Likewise, a strong plurality, 42%, said they would be better off if Congress passed health care reform, 19% said worse off and 30% said it wouldn't make much of a difference.
Don't forget to give Ron's story a read. The poll provides a fascinating look at the somewhat dovetailing concerns of Americans with the Obama administration's top priorities.
The poll surveyed 1,200 adults from April 8 through 14. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus