The economy and the war will drive Dick Meredith’s decisions this election season – not the candidates’ advertising attacks and counterattacks.
“We’ve heard way too much about Vietnam and National Guard service,” said the 70-year-old Silver Lake resident. “We should talk about the issues at home and how we prosecute the war in Iraq.”
Meredith is not alone.
In a statewide poll conducted for The Herald, voters cited the economy and the war as the most important issues on their minds as they go prepare to choose a president. Similarly, concern about the economy and jobs was far and away the top issue influencing their votes for governor.
Overall, Democrats and independents listed the economy, the war in Iraq and health care as the top three issues. Republicans chose homeland security, the war and, in a distant third, the economy.
The poll results show that most voters who said they were better off economically today than four years ago stuck with President Bush, while those who said they were worse off chose Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry.
Meredith said homeland security was his primary concern. “We cannot stick our heads in the sand and hope to get homeland security organized,” said the Republican-leaning owner of the consulting firm D.C. Energy. “I’m not sure we’re putting enough money into the effort.”
Zsofia Pasztor, 36, an Everett Democrat, said she had a hard time choosing just one issue in the poll as the most important.
“It’s really the total picture of things,” said the landscape designer and mother of three. “I really feel the entire nation took a very, very sad turn after the 2000 election.”
She supported Democrat Rep. Dennis Kucinich for president, and now will vote for Kerry. “He won’t do things worse,” she said. “We cannot afford President Bush another four years.”
In the race for governor, Democratic nominee Christine Gregoire and Republican candidate Dino Rossi both have pledged to create tens of thousands of jobs and lead the state into a new era of economic growth.
In the poll, 47 percent of respondents said they considered the state’s economy to be worse today than four years ago. Of that total, 72 percent backed Gregoire. Rossi won strong support among those who said the economy is the same or better.
When voters consider their personal situations, 44 percent said they were doing about the same, 31 percent said they were doing better and 25 percent said things had gotten worse. Of this group, Gregoire scored highest with those who considered themselves worse off, and Rossi led among those who said they were in better financial shape.
William Cook, a 55-year-old boilermaker from Monroe, is one of those surveyed whose job prospects are dimmer today. He said he’s backing Gregoire.
“The economy is a big deal,” he said. “When Democrats are in power, generally we have work. Four years ago, we had a lot more work going on.”
Meredith is solidly in Rossi’s camp. “We’ve stifled business in this state for so long,” he said. “I think we’ve had Democrats long enough in Olympia. I think it’s time for a change.”
On related issues, 49 percent of those polled said they think state government has hindered economic growth; 37 percent said it has helped.
Voters split on tax breaks for large employers. Half said tax breaks help create and keep jobs in the state, and the other half said they divert dollars from education, health care and other services.
Finally, the poll found overwhelming support, 72 percent, for expanding state-paid health insurance for the poor.
The poll was commissioned by The Herald, the News-Tribune of Tacoma, the Columbian of Vancouver, The Spokesman-Review of Spokane and The Associated Press.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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