Poll: Terrorism fears are fading
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/02/art.poll.gi.jpg
caption="Mourners throw flowers in a reflecting pool at Ground Zero."]
(CNN) - As Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama battle over who has the best approach to national security, a new CNN poll finds Americans' concerns about terrorism have hit an all-time low for the post-September 11 era.
According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday, 35 percent of Americans believe a terrorist attack somewhere in the United States is likely over the next several weeks. The figure is the lowest in a CNN poll since the al Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington, which killed nearly 3,000 people.
Between 2002 and 2006, summertime polls typically showed that a majority of Americans believed that a terrorist attack was likely. Last summer, that figure dropped to 41 percent. This summer, it dropped another six points.
The new CNN poll also indicates that the war in Iraq remains deeply unpopular. Only three in ten voters favor the war, while 68 percent oppose it.
Similarly, only a third of voters would like to see the next president keep the same number of troops in Iraq that are currently stationed there.
For McCain, who is seeking to highlight his national security credentials and has staunchly defended the U.S. presence in Iraq, the latest poll results may not be viewed in a positive light.
"Senator McCain's greatest strength is in foreign policy, particularly his reputation as the candidate best able to fight the war on terror," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said.
"As the threat of a terrorist attack continues to recede in the mind of the American voter, the state of the economy and other domestic issues are likely to become even more important. That would be good news for Senator Obama, since the Democrats currently beat or tie the Republicans on every issue
except terrorism."
Another potential problem for McCain may be found in President Bush's latest job approval ratings.
According to the new survey, only 30 percent of Americans approve of how Bush is handling his job, while 68 percent of Americans disapprove of Bush's job performance. These numbers are roughly consistent with the president's approval ratings over most of the last two years.
These numbers also reinforce the need for the presumptive Republican nominee to create an impression of distance and distinction between himself and Bush. Democrats, on the other hand, are eager to tie McCain to the unpopular outgoing Republican president and portray his possible election as the
equivalent of a third Bush term.
The poll, conducted June 26-29, surveyed 906 registered voters and carries a sampling error of 3.5 percentage points.
From CNN Politics
- Trial in one of E. Jean Carroll's rape defamation cases against Trump is delayed
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Supreme Court urged by DOJ and other parties to sidestep independent state legislature dispute
- Jason Sudeikis and 'Ted Lasso' cast meet with Biden for mental health discussion
- DeSantis needles Trump as he breaks silence on hush money case
- Trump's team puts forward ally in hopes of undercutting Cohen testimony in NY hush money case
The Bush Crime Family and the GOP are still in the office so terrorism is alive and well.
Unfortunately, terrorism fears won't have a chance to fade while McCain is running. It's all his campaign has and it has worked so well for the past 2 elections.
It's not so much that terrorists fears are fading but people have more pressing concerns on their mind like where are they going to live. The republicans are disgusting and show how much they really care about americans by baiting them with fear.
Everyone should thank President Bush for this.
Bad news for Grandpa McSame and his albatross, Dumbya the Clown Prince...
Ladies and Gentlemen; Terriorism is not over and the danger has not been lessened. They are out there and we need a strong defense to keep them from our shores.
BTW - Fist bumping is not done in polite societies. We have certain values that will be destroyed if he becomes our leader.
We have to have our values protected and Obama has proven that he is not up to the job. as soon as someone does, or says something that might offend a few, he throws them under the bus like he did his own grandmother and this preacher etc.
That means if you don't walk a straight line he will dump you or your issue. I'm not sure he is patriotic either. What a snaky Politician.
Obama has no loyalty to his supporters, so if I were you I'd be careful.
I think we're just getting sick of the war-mongers and fear-mongers on the republican side.
We're also busy trying to feed our families and find a job – it's getting harder and harder – how many jobs will be out-sourced to Columbia ? Which country is next to take our jobs ?
American voters are stupid,they don,t seem to understand the fear game the republicans are playing each election year.
In 2003-2004,the George War Bush was raising trait level from red to purple,high to average. Ones he won second term ,the trait was over.
The game have started again this election year with idiots like Joe Libberman ,his fellow old MEN and other political prostitutes in Washington.
There is no clear difference among G.War Bush,Iran President,Robert Mugabe and Fidel Castro.
American VOTERS please wake up from your slumber.
We are for America,not the NEO-CONSERVATIVES.
Don't worry, the GOP will inject a good dose of fear around October.
That we have not had another "terrorist" (see CNN headlines of this morning putting "terrorist" in quotes following obvious terror attack in Jerusalem) attack on US soil since 9/11 is a testament to the efforts of President Bush and this country's intelligence, law enforcement and military steadfastness. This success has resulted in a developing lax attitude on the part of US citizens. That is a good thing. I hope that the undisclosed work of many thousands of people behind the scenes continues to keep us safe. We should acknowledge that the comfort we enjoy didn't happen by accident.
Our fears should not be fading, because they are real. While we need to calibrate our thinking and be reasonable, we should not pretend as if something real and irrational does not exist across the seas.
I do have to say that I find it interesting that the Republicans (and Leiberman) continue to warn of possible terrorist attacks, and position themselves as better able to deal with it. After 7 years of the Patriot Act and the Bush Administration holding themselves out as being so superb about matters of homeland security, what does it say about their confidence in their abilities if they continually warn us that terrorists will strike soon?
It is not surprising since there hasn't been an attack as prominate as September 11 or the train attack in Spain or England. I believe it took those who planned the attacks years to do it. It also took communication and money. Since Al Queda (however spell the cowards' group) has become much more prominate, they have been monitored much more closely making it harder for them to do anything.
I am no fan of President Bush on all his policies, but you really have to give him credits for how low the terrorism fear is today. Again, political loyalty was in the way of doing business for the American people. Senator McCain was right about Secretary Rumsfeld. President Bush should have replaced him much earlier. Political loyalty is bad for the nation. Governor Richardson is a hero by not endorsing Hillary. On the women league, we have two.
I do like Mrs. Laura Bush dearly, especially when she came out speaking for the Burmese victims after they were hit by the cyclone.
I also like Speaker Nancy Pelosi's work for Tibet.
These are remarkable women world leaders in our time.
I'm certain that the McCain warmonger crowd will state that we as a country feel safer because we are so tough on terror now.
I am also certain that a greater majority of this country is looking forward to an Obama presidency where we are no longer this world's playground bully and we can restore our country as a a prosperous, charitable, do-good member of the international community.
I don't fear terror, I fear Obama. 🙂
I feel that this shows that Senator McCain is out of touch with the people he wants to lead.
I am no fan of President Bush on all his policies, but you really have to give him credits for how low the terrorism fear is today. Again, political loyalty was in the way of doing business for the American people. Senator McCain was right about Secretary Rumsfeld. President Bush should have replaced him much earlier. Political loyalty is bad for the nation. Governor Richardson is a hero by not endorsing Hillary. On the women league, we have two.
I do like Mrs. Laura Bush dearly, especially when she came out speaking for the Burmese victims after they were hit by the cyclone.
I also like Speaker Nancy Pelosi's work for Tibet.
These are remarkable women world leaders in our time
Yes, there may be another terrorist attack. Or they could just patiently wait for recession, inflation, high fuel costs, a huge deficit and the cost of war in Iraq or Afghanistan to bring our country down.
I could get run over by a beer truck or struck by lightning. But what I worry about is choosing between buying fuel and buying food, and what I will have to pay to keep warm this winter. I pray I don't get sick... I can't afford it.
McCain is currently in Columbia, talking free trade and the war on drugs... those aren't things I think about much...
... and McCain wants you to think that there will be an attack.
The fact that Americans are not buying into the keep the fear alive theme Bush has handed out for the past 8 years and this is hurting McCain speaks to the kind of president he would be. Still ruling us by keeping us afraid. More reason as to why McCain is McSame, as in same as Bush.
Even one of his campaign people and Joe Lieberman said McCain would benefit from us having another terrorist attack. That is a more outrageous comment then anyone questioning McCain’s service to this country.
A vote for McCain is a vote for another 100 years in Iraq because he thrives off of us being scared.
A vote for Obama is a vote for change because he is inspiring this nation to actual get involved in politics, take back Washington to make it work for us.
If you like being fearful then McCain is your guy, if you like the thought of us all stepping up and making a difference together then Obama is your guy.
OBAMA 08!!!
They are not fading.....We have a new fear.....will we make the next mortgage payment....do I have enough money for gas in my car......do I give up my healthcare to buy gas or food.....will I be able to buy gas and milk today....These are the new fears....terrorist attacks are not out of our minds but have taken a back seat to the new fears.
Pulling our troops out of Iraq won't change anything. The terrorist are not in Iraq.....they are everywhere but there.....Iraq is a training ground for terrorist....because we are there.......they leave there and come here. They even use mentally challenged people to blow up markets......that should tell you something....Remeber to die killing the gentiles is a great thing.....and handicaps are looked at as being lame...so why aren't all these health young men not jumping at the chance in Iraq to die and meet the 7 virgins...Hmmmm maybe because the hard line terrorist are not there. OR they are all dead.....yeah Ok!!
I sure hope we do not become complacent. We were with Japan before Pearl Harbor.
I heard people say that Americans have very short memory.
I HOPE THAT IS NOT TRUE.
Unless we entirely abandon all of our influence in Islamic nations around the planet–it is unlikely we will fall off of their prime target list.
Allowing our nation to reduce it's vigilance will almost guarantee that Al Qaeda or indpenedent radical's will find an opportunistic opening and recreate a small or large scale attack on a school, hospital, university, commercial facility. Remember–they don't care who they kill–they just want large casualties and financially or emotionally important destruction of icons, buildings, landmarks.
This is not the time to sleep at the post.