Despite close competition from other pressing issues, the economy is still the top concern for voters, according to a new Cheddar/SurveyUSA poll.
The poll, conducted October 1-4, 2020, showed that 15 percent of respondents named the economy as the most important issue for them when marking their presidential ballot.
This perennial election issue squeaked in ahead of "defeating Donald Trump" at 14 percent, compared to "re-electing Donald Trump" at 9 percent. Replacing the president got a two-point boost, however, after his COVID-19 diagnosis, with the economy losing ground as well.
There was also a significant spread in which demographic groups pinpointed the economy as the top issue, with 19 percent of Hispanics, 15 percent of whites, and just 7 percent of Blacks choosing the issue.
Amid nationwide protests and counterprotests, respondents were neatly split on issues of social justice and law and order. Black Lives Matter, social justice, and law and order each received 3 percent while All Lives Matter received 5 percent.
Other top concerns include COVID-19 at 12 percent, healthcare at 9 percent, and "preserving the democracy" at 6 percent.
On the Affordable Care Act — which reemerged as an election-year issue with the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — 54 percent of respondents said the Court should leave it as the law of the land, while 31 percent said it should be declared unconstitutional.
This matches closely with the 56 percent who said they felt either favorably or very favorably toward Obamacare and the 38 percent who felt unfavorably or very unfavorably toward it.
Younger and lower-income voters also had a better impression of the healthcare law — though those who were most concerned with the economy were less likely to be in favor. After Trump's COVID diagnosis, favorable impressions got a boost as well.
Finally, the poll showed significant doubts about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Just 28 percent said the country will know the outcome on election day, while 42 percent said: "maybe a week after." A sizable 21 percent predicted we'd know sometime before Thanksgiving.
Again, Trump's hospital visit shifted the numbers, with slightly more believing the election would be over and done with on Election Day.
Many U.S. consumers say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for holiday gifts in recent months, according to a a December poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A contributing factor is the unusually high import taxes the Trump administration put on foreign goods. While the worst-case consumer impact that many economists foresaw from the administration’s trade policies hasn’t materialized, some popular gift items have been affected more than others. Most toys and electronics sold in the U.S. come from China. So do most holiday decorations. Jewelry prices have risen due to the cost of gold.
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President Donald Trump says he will allow Nvidia to sell its H200 computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China. Trump said Monday on his social media site that he had informed China’s leader Xi Jinping and “President Xi responded positively!” There had been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips into China as it could help them to compete against the U.S. in building out AI capabilities. But there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia.
House Republicans in key battleground districts are working to contain the political fallout expected when thousands of their constituents face higher bills for health insurance coverage obtained through the Affordable Care Act. For a critical sliver of the GOP majority, the impending expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits after Dec. 31 could be a major political liability as they potentially face midterm headwinds in a 2026 election critical to President Donald Trump’s agenda. For Democrats, the party’s strategy for capturing the House majority revolves around pinning higher bills for groceries, health insurance and utilities on Republicans.
