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Today, Divided We Fail released its first Election Issue Survey in the five early caucus and primary states, which surveyed a total of 5,000 AARP members. The survey found that two-thirds of those polled (65 to 77 percent among potential Democratic participants and 78 to 84 percent of Republican participants) are likely to change their candidate preference once they learn more about the candidates’ positions on health and financial security.
“Clearly, candidates must do a better job of discussing health care and financial security with voters,” said AARP Group Executive Officer Nancy LeaMond. “With a majority of AARP members polled saying they are likely to change who they vote for, this election could hinge on how candidates address these issues.” The issue poll surveyed 5,000 AARP members in Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, and New Hampshire, with each state sample including 500 members likely to attend the Republican caucuses or primaries and 500 likely to attend the Democratic caucuses or primaries. The questions focused on health care and financial security, issue landscape and the mood of the country. The survey found financial security is a critical voting issue. Over nine in ten AARP potential caucus participants or primary voters from each party say that issues related to financial security such as Social Security, incentives for savings and investment, and pension protection will be important to their votes. This issue is very important to between 66 percent and 75 percent of potential Democratic caucus participants and primary voters and to between 51 percent and 68 percent of potential Republican participants in the caucuses and primaries. Importance of Financial Security Issues to Voting Decision
Large majorities of likely caucus attendees and primary voters say that health care will be important to their 2008 voting decision. The issue is especially salient among those planning to attend the Democratic caucuses or vote in the Democratic primaries where almost all say it is at least somewhat important, and between 75 percent and 83 percent rate it as very important. Republicans also say that health care will be important to their voting decisions, with between 42 percent and 56 percent reporting the issue will be very important.
Over the next quarter, Divided We Fail will conduct simultaneous polls leading up to the first primary, with the next poll expected in October. The polls will enable Divided We Fail to track the opinions of AARP members as debates proceed and candidates clarify their issue positions. “Clearly AARP members are ready to hear from the candidates on these issues,” LeaMond said. “Our members vote and they are looking for information to make their decisions.” According to exit polls, roughly one in four voters in the 2006 election were AARP members. With nearly 4.4 million AARP members in the five states surveyed, following is a list of the number of members who have participated in caucuses or primaries and the total number of members included in all education and outreach efforts:
Iowa members who have ever attended a caucus: 67,218 members (390,788 total)
Nevada members: Since Nevada is a first time caucus state, Divided We Fail is committed to educating the 115,656 AARP Nevada members who have voted in the previous two Presidential elections about the Divided We Fail issues (321,710 total)
New Hampshire members who have voted in a primary election between 2000-2004: 45,224 members (234,847 total)
South Carolina members who have voted in a primary election between 2000-2004: 192,760 members (546,964 total)
Florida members: Since Florida is a first time early primary state, Divided We Fail is committed to educating the 1.2 AARP Florida members who have voted in the previous two Presidential elections about the Divided We Fail issues (2, 875,209 total).
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Born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, this Dutch courtesan, dancer, and probable spy went by the stage name Mata Hari. During WWI, she had intimate relationships with many high-ranking Allied military officers and government officials. In January 1917, French intelligence intercepted German messages about a spy that the former identified as Mata Hari. Less than a year later, she was executed by the French on espionage charges. What is she rumored to have done while standing before the firing squad?