Thread: Most say economy is the No. 1 factor in how they voted

Detroit Free Press
Published on: 01/15/08

DETROIT — Concern about the economy dwarfed all other issues for voters in Michigan's Republican and Democratic presidential primaries Tuesday, according to indications from an exit poll.

For Republicans, the economy was the top concern for 55 percent of voters, followed by the war in Iraq, 18 percent, illegal immigration, 14 percent, and terrorism, 10 percent.

On the Democratic side, 60 percent of voters said the economy was the most important issue, with the Iraq war second at 21 percent and health care at 17 percent.

The candidates who streamed through Michigan in the past week no doubt sensed the state's economic anxiety. Their messages became increasingly focused on what they would do to deliver relief.

Republican Mitt Romney's familiarity with Michigan and many contacts in the state may have helped in that regard.

He bemoaned Michigan's "one-state recession" and castigated top rival John McCain as a pessimist after he suggested that some of Michigan's manufacturing jobs were gone forever.

Romney said domestic manufacturing, especially Detroit-style car-making, could regain market dominance with the right government policies that he promised to deliver.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, on the other hand, campaigned as an economic populist, casting himself as the son of a dirt-poor laborer who had not forgotten his roots and would stand up for working people against unfair competition.

His message was aimed at attracting working-class Republicans, blue-collar Democrats and independents to shore up his base of support from Christian conservatives.

At least on the Republican side, it's likely the candidate who did the best job of connecting with Michigan's economically insecure voters would emerge with a victory.

The National Election Pool poll, conducted by Edison/Mitofsky of New Jersey, interviewed 873 Republican voters at 40 polling places and 588 Democratic voters at 40 polling places. The margin of error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Here's what some voters told the Detroit Free Press:

Andy Bergesen, 36, of Birmingham said the biggest issue is the economy and its impact on Michigan. Bergesen said he voted for Romney because "he is uniquely qualified to understand the issues in Michigan."

In Canton, Claude Grant, 60, said he voted for Romney in part to keep the race more wide open and because he's "a favorite son." But Grant said economic issues also were on his mind. He said he didn't like how McCain seemed to be giving up on automotive jobs.

"It's going to be difficult to revive the auto industry," he said, "but I think it's going to be even more difficult to find something else to replace it."

Democratic voter Coletta Thomas of Lathrup Village said she is looking for change: "I'd like to see us do something about health care and the economy. Too many people are out of work around here."

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/st ... _0116.html

I believe that the Democrats do not poll on illegal immigration.

Matthew 18:20

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeach

I believe that the Democrats do not poll on illegal immigration.

Matthew 18:20

Heard that too GeorgiaPeach. Kind of hard to get a percentage when the question isn't asked.

They don't talk about NAFTA either and that is why unemployment is so high. We need to find a way to get candidates to talk about govermnent controlled trade as well as immigration.