Comments on: Will It Be Santorum? In Iowa, Timing is Everything – the latest Poll

By: Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:45:07 +0000

Zach – Yes, I got that. And, consistent with your note regarding relatively lower unemployment, Iowans seems a lot more focused on the deficit and government spending than on jobs.

By: Zach Drennen

Zach Drennen — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:37:12 +0000

By economic issues I meant jobs, not the deficit. Voters are a lot less likely to care about the deficit if they can’t find work.

By: Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:51:12 +0000

Marty – Will do. I think there’s data at least regarding candidate expenditures. But I’ll check.

By: Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:21:50 +0000

Actually, Zach, the polling data suggests most Iowans – including evangelicals – are primarily focused on economic issues, not social ones. Very few (about 12% in one poll) cite social issues as an important issue in the election – roughly 85% cite the economy. What is different among Iowans is that when asked about what aspect of the economy concerns them, it’s not jobs so much as government spending. That’s the Tea Party effect. it may also reflect, as you note, a relatively lower unemployment rate there. But make no mistake about it – it’s the economy that is the major concern for almost everyone there.

By: Zach Drennen

Zach Drennen — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:56:56 +0000

I think part of the reason that jobs haven’t played as a bigger issue in Iowa is that the unemployment rate there is much lower than the nation as a whole – 5.6% versus 8.6%. That’s allowed candidates there to focus on social issues to an extent that a lot of other states can’t afford.