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Presidential elections

Iraq War Dominates Presidential Election, Voters Prioritize Economy, Terrorism, and Moral Values

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Voters heading to the polls on election day were primarily concerned about the war in Iraq, with 53% saying things were going badly for the United States. This sentiment significantly impacted the outcome, as 8 in 10 voters who held this view supported Sen. John Kerry. Conversely, those who believed the war was going well supported President Bush by nearly 9 in 10.

The economic downturn and terrorism also played significant roles in the election, with 45% of voters citing the economy as the most important issue and a majority saying they trusted Kerry to handle the economy. Terrorism was a closely contested issue, with voters saying they trusted Bush by a double-digit margin. However, this did not translate into electoral success, as Kerry won the election.

Voters were also divided on moral values, with 6 in 10 of Bush's supporters citing this as their primary concern, while Kerry's supporters were more likely to support abortion rights and same-sex marriage. The surveys revealed that the Republican Party relies heavily on cultural conservatives, with 60% of Bush's supporters attending church at least once a week and 50% owning a gun.

The election saw a significant shift in the partisan divide, with 90% of Democrats supporting Kerry and 92% of Republicans supporting Bush. Kerry also gained support from independents, winning 52% to 44%, a significant change from 2000 when Bush had a plurality among independents.

Key Takeaways:

  • 53% of voters said things were going badly in Iraq, with 8 in 10 supporting Kerry.
  • 45% of voters cited the economy as the most important issue, with 90% trusting Kerry to handle it.
  • Terrorism was a closely contested issue, with voters saying they trusted Bush by a double-digit margin.
  • 6 in 10 of Bush's supporters mentioned moral values as their primary concern.
  • The surveys revealed that the Republican Party relies heavily on cultural conservatives.
  • 90% of Democrats supported Kerry, while 92% of Republicans supported Bush.
  • Kerry gained support from independents, winning 52% to 44%.

Statistics:

  • 53% of voters said things were going badly in Iraq.
  • 8 in 10 voters who said this supported Kerry.
  • 45% of voters cited the economy as the most important issue.
  • 9 in 10 voters trusted Bush to handle terrorism.
  • 6 in 10 of Bush's supporters mentioned moral values as their primary concern.
  • 90% of Democrats supported Kerry.
  • 92% of Republicans supported Bush.

Sources:

  • Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International
  • The Associated Press
  • NBC News
  • ABC News
  • CBS News
  • CNN
  • Fox News

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