Posted on Wed, Sep. 10, 2003
Economy tops voters' list of worries
AS RECALL NEARS, CALIFORNIANS CONCERNED ABOUT FINANCES, SCHOOLS
By Linda Goldston
Mercury News
With less than a month to go, voters say they are more concerned about the economy, public schools and the state budget deficit than any other issues in the recall election, according to a new Field Poll.
The survey of registered voters, conducted Sept. 3-6, found that more than eight in 10 voters consider those issues ``very important'' in deciding whom they will support for governor, with 92 percent saying the economy topped their list of concerns.
Seven in 10 voters said they're very concerned about encouraging businesses to invest or expand in the state, health care and taxes.
``The economy is a much bigger deal this year,'' said pollster Mark DiCamillo. ``There's never been this level of concern about the state deficit before. When we were polling in February 2002, schools and health care were 1 and 2 on the list. The economy was way down, 17th. So times are very different.''
The poll also asked voters if they support a new law allowing illegal immigrants to obtain a California driver's license. Voters disapprove of the legislation signed by Gov. Gray Davis last week 59 percent to 34 percent.
That issue dominated much of the political discussion last week, although illegal immigration issues are only ninth on the list of concerns for voters.
``It's a tug of war between the various sides to try to gain control of the agenda of what's being talked about,'' DiCamillo said. ``That's what this campaign is about. They want to talk about things advantageous to their own candidate.''
But that doesn't mean that a candidate can't ride an issue voters seemingly don't care about to victory, DiCamillo said.
``Back in 1994, when Pete Wilson was running for re-election, illegal immigration was not even in the top 10 list of concerns, but Wilson talked about that the entire time to great effect. By the time election day came around, the No. 1 reason people said they voted for Wilson is because he would be tough on illegal immigrants. It's a matter of tactics.''
The poll showed differences in the top concerns of Democratic and Republican voters.
Supporters of Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, said public schools, health care and the interests of women topped their lists of concerns.
Supporters of Republicans Arnold Schwarzenegger and state Sen. Tom McClintock said reducing the state's budget deficit, taxes and encouraging businesses to invest and expand in the state mattered more to them.
About six in 10 of each of the leading candidates' supporters said they also consider crime and law enforcement as very important in the voting decision, but fewer than one in four consider the leading candidates' stand on Indian casino gambling as very important. |
