Election Desk

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun
NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

PRESIDENTIAL RACE


AP POLL: NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES DOMINATING AMERICANS’ ATTENTION


National security issues such as the war in Iraq and terrorism are dominating voters’ attention in the final weeks before Election Day, Associated Press polling found.


Along with security issues like war and terrorism, the economy and health care were near the top of the list of the nation’s most important problems in an AP-Ipsos poll. In a poll by CBS News in October 2000,the most important problems were Social Security, education, and health care. National defense and the military were at 2%.


National security issues were picked by 55% of Americans as the most important problems facing the nation, according to the poll taken in early October – up from 43% who named national security issues in an April poll.


When asked in an open-ended question to identify the most important problems facing America, 27% mentioned war. That number has tripled since the summer of 2003 in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq. An additional 18% named terrorism. Respondents were allowed to name more than one problem; smaller numbers mentioned other national security issues.


Economic problems – including the overall economy and unemployment – were named by four in 10, far behind national security issues. Two in 10 specifically mentioned the economy, and 13% said unemployment.


About one-fourth of those questioned mentioned other domestic issues, especially health care, according to the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs.


– Associated Press


‘NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND’ IS THE TOP EDUCATION ISSUE


President Bush asked for it. Senator Kerry voted for it. Both candidates now find their education agendas driven by the No Child Left Behind law.


The most aggressive shake-up to schools in a generation, the law is the top education issue in a presidential race dominated by war, terrorism, jobs, taxes, and credibility. The law orders schools to ensure all children achieve regardless of race, ethnicity, or income.


For voters, the line dividing Messrs. Bush and Kerry is subtle. The nominees diverge on how much to spend on the law and how much to tinker with it as schools try to comply. The Republican incumbent promotes his spending record. He also says it is time to expand the law by requiring two more years of state math and reading tests in the high school grades.


Mr. Kerry says schools need much more money to meet high standards. He promises an extra $10 billion a year by erasing Mr. Bush’s tax cuts on people earning more than $200,000. The Massachusetts senator talks of expanding the way student progress is measured in a law built on testing.


Both candidates have ideas all along the education spectrum, from college aid and teacher pay to high school rigor and math and science classes. Some ideas are modest; others would continue an expanding federal role in schools.


Yet all this is largely unnoticed by voters and lightly mentioned by the candidates, even though the next president will take on a backlog of school matters affecting millions of people. “People are still concerned about education, but terrorism and personal security have significantly increased in concern,” said Republican pollster David Winston. “And then you’ve got a rough economy, made worse by 9/11. People are managing a lot more things.”


– Associated Press

NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use