In 2002 and 2004, Republicans saw enormous electoral success, in large part due to the GOP’s dominance of the national security issue and the high importance of homeland security to voters. Fortunately, there has not been another terrorist attack on American soil for over seven years — but due to this incredible fact, the importance of the issue of national security seems to have diminished substantially in the minds of voters.
Indeed, indicated that only 25% of respondents were “very worried” about about another terrorist attack in the U.S., with a similar number (23%) saying they were “not too worried.” The same exit poll suggested that terrorism was one of the least important issues on voters’ minds, with only 9% indicating that the issue was most important to them when they voted. Anecdotal evidence from the 2008 election results also suggests a significant decline in the importance of this issue — the biggest example of this being that Obama won despite consistently being seen as the weaker candidate on national security.
This development is somewhat frightening in the sense that the threat of terrorism certainly has not disappeared. Imagine for a moment how detrimental another terrorist attack would be to the already abysmal economy. However, since this has become an issue that cannot win elections, Republicans must find other issues to dominate so that it can position itself to win in 2010.
Last 5 posts by Aaron Marks
- Onward and Upward: Building a Sustainable Majority - January 22nd, 2010
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- The Youth Vote and the 2009 Elections - November 6th, 2009
- The Best of the Post-2009 Election Spin - November 5th, 2009
- Introducing NextGenGOP Executive Director James Kane - October 20th, 2009