With only a week left until midterm Election Day, I’m tired of the run-of-the-mill polls and ready to see the real results. Maybe you are too.
As you know, all the major polls show the Republicans to take the House, the race for control of the Senate is very close.
But I stumbled upon a quick analysis, based on a recent CBS survey, that shows a strong point.
Most voters say their biggest issue is the economy, which is normal. In fact, apparently, with inflation and Democrats controlling Congress and the White House, those who see the economy as their main issue tend to vote Republican.
The economy is always a top priority, but in a recent poll of Trump supporters, CBS asked voters what really matters to them. More information, whether the US will have a “strong economy” or a “functioning democracy.” (It’s a question, I suspect, that isn’t always asked but one that seems especially important in the first election after the January 6, 2021, coup attempt.)
A majority (56%) said “a functioning democracy” is more important than a “strong economy” (44% said a strong economy is more important).
And, among those who said preserving democracy was most important, 63% said they plan to vote for Democrats compared to 29% who plan to vote Republican.
Of those who said the economy was the most important thing, 70% planned to vote for Republicans and only 21% for Democrats.
Perhaps this is a good way to show that Republicans care more about the economy and Democrats care more about democracy. I don’t know. You can only look at survey results for a long time. Without thinking too much, it would be safe to assume that most Americans care about the health of our democracy and the health of our economy.
But it is a reminder that, after Trump and January 6, the survival of our democracy seems to be at stake these days to a degree we have never seen in our lifetime.
A two-minute video by CBS News Elections & Surveys Director Anthony Salvanto analyzes the findings. it appears here.
