Reducing crime and fixing the Medicare and Medicaid systems top the list of current voter concerns, according to a new poll conducted for Reuters by the New York-based John Zogby Group International. But the survey, released Thursday, also indicates that voters have little faith the federal government can deal with issues they consider to be of major importance.
Of eight issues listed, reducing crime was listed by 85.9 percent of those polled as very or most important, followed by fixing Medicare and Medicaid, 83.1 percent; cracking down on drugs, 77.5 percent; and a balanced budget plan, 76.1 percent. A healthcare initiative was next with 70.9 percent, followed by campaign finance reform, 65.5 percent; protecting the rights of women and minorities, 60.3; and tax credits for college tuition -- an idea touted by President Clinton -- last at 55.3 percent.
By an overwhelming 69-19 margin, the poll found voters would balance the budget by foregoing tax cuts in order to protect social programs such as Medicare.
As Clinton prepares to deliver his State of the Union message Tuesday, 53.5 percent feel the United States is heading in the right direction, while only about 15 percent are pessimistic about their personal financial futures.
Voters are split down the middle on Clinton's job performance, with 49.6 percent rating it positively and 49.8 percent negatively. But Clinton's overall favorability ratings stand at almost 65 percent, with 34 percent rating him unfavorably; by comparision, House Speaker Gingrich scored only a 28 percent favorable rating, as compared to a 62.5 percent unfavorable score.
The survey of 1,008 registered voters, conducted Saturday through Wednesday, has a 3.2 point error margin.
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