CWA Survey Reflects Members’ Priorities as November Elections Approach

Recently, CWA commissioned a noted polling firm to learn what issues concern members most as the Nov. 7 election approaches.
The random, telephone poll involved 800 members across the country. Calls were made between July 23 and July 27. The margin of error is 3.5 percent. Here are some of the key findings:

• 52 percent supported Al Gore for president, 34 percent supported George W. Bush. The majority of independent voters were undecided.
  
• More than half supported a Democratic candidate for Congress. Female CWA members gave Democrats a 38-point lead, and men, a 16-point lead over Republicans.
  
• The single most important election-year issue among all members polled is the future of Social Security and Medicare.
  
• Education and health care tied for the second-most important issue among women. Among men, it was taxes and government spending.
  
• 31 percent of Democrats ranked health care as the first or second most important issue, compared to 20 percent between Independents and Republicans.
  
• Younger members ranked education higher than older members — 33 percent to 21 percent. Among Democrats, 29 percent gave it a high ranking, compared to 20 percent of Independents and 22 percent of Republicans.
  
• Younger members were more worried about taxes and government spending than older workers — 26 percent compared to 19 percent. Republicans were most concerned, with 37 percent ranking it number one.
  
• Key undecided voters include Independents, 14 percent of CWA’s membership; white men, 49 percent; and technical or clerical workers, 42 percent.