UCI

Political Parties and National Issues

Which party do Orange County residents trust the most on health care, jobs and the economy, and national security and terrorism—three issues expected to be critical in the 2004 presidential election? Local residents indicate that they believe the major political parties have relative strengths and weaknesses. County residents say they trust the Democrats more than the Republicans to do a better job handling health care issues (49% to 35%), and they trust the Republicans over the Democrats on national security and terrorism issues (55% to 28%). When it comes to jobs and the economy, by a six-point gap, they trust Republicans (46%) to do a better job than Democrats (40%) in handling this issue.

In the state as a whole, Californians favor the Democrats over the Republicans by wide margins on health care (53% to 28%) and the economy (47% to 37%), and Republicans over Democrats on national security and terrorism issues (47% to 33%), according to our statewide survey in September.

Democratic voters show the most support for their party on health care (81%), followed by jobs and the economy (70%), and terrorism and national security (55%). By way of contrast, Republicans are most confident in their party’s handling of terrorism and security (88%) and jobs and the economy (82%) and least of all in their handling of health care (68%). Independents trust Democrats the most on health care (57%) and the economy (45%), and Republicans the most on national security and terrorism (46%).

Of special significance for the upcoming election, among the Orange County residents who are most likely to vote, the Democrats are favored over the GOP by a narrower 8-point margin on health care (48% to 40%), while the GOP is favored over the Democrats by a wider 17-point margin on the economy (54% to 37%) and by a hefty 34-point margin on the issue of national security and terrorism (60% to 26%).