Do Americans Trust the Republicans or Democrats More on Key Issues?

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- Gallup recently asked Americans which party they have greater trust in to handle "all the issues you care about." The results are divided, with nearly equal percentages (about one-third each) saying they trust either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party, and about one-quarter saying their trust in the parties varies by issue. However, when the middle group is pushed to name a preference, the Democrats come out with a slight edge -- 48% to 39%, respectively. Most rank-and-file Republicans and Democrats say they trust their own party on the issues. Separately, the poll asked what issue will be most important to Americans when deciding whom to vote for in next year's presidential election. The war in Iraq tops the list, followed by the economy and healthcare.

These results are from a USA Today/Gallup poll conducted April 13-15, 2007.

Public's Trust in the Political Parties

In terms of overall trust in the political parties to handle the issues they care about, 35% of Americans say they trust the Democrats more on "all the issues" that they care about, while 32% say they trust the Republicans more on all their issues. Roughly one in four Americans (24%) do not show such strong loyalty to either party, saying they trust the Democrats more on some issues and the Republicans more on other issues.

Among this latter group, Democrats have an edge. The poll asked those with mixed attitudes about the parties if they trust the Democrats on more issues than they trust the Republicans, or if they trust the Republicans on more issues than the Democrats. The results show Americans slightly more likely to trust the Democrats on more issues than to trust the Republicans on more issues.

All told, 48% of Americans say they trust the Democrats more on all or most of the issues they care about, 39% trust the Republicans, and 13% have no opinion or trust the parties about equally on the issues.

(Asked of those who say they trust the Democrats more on some issues, and the Republicans more on other issues) If you had to choose, would you say you trust -- [ROTATED: the Democrats on more issues than you trust the Republicans, (or) the Republicans on more issues than you trust the Democrats]?

COMBINED RESPONSES: BASED ON FULL SAMPLE

A Vote for the Home Team

The vast majority of rank-and-file Republicans and Democrats say they trust their own party on all the issues that they care about most. Seventy-nine percent of Republicans say they trust the Republican Party more on all key issues, while 73% of Democrats trust the Democratic Party on these issues.

Among independents, 26% say they trust the Democrats on all the issues, 23% trust the Republicans, and 35% have mixed views. Of those independents who have mixed views, 17% trust the Democrats on more issues than Republicans, while 11% trust Republicans on more issues than Democrats.

Americans' Key Issues in 2008 Vote

The same poll asked Americans to name, in their own words, the most important issue that they will take into account when deciding whom to vote for in next year's presidential election. The Iraq war, not surprisingly, is the dominant choice, mentioned by 42% of adults nationwide. No other issue is mentioned nearly as frequently as Iraq. Thirteen percent of Americans say the economy will be the most important issue they take into account, and 11% say healthcare or health insurance. Other issues mentioned by Americans include homeland security and defense (7%); education (5%); illegal immigration (5%); and honesty, integrity, and credibility of candidates (5%).

Looking ahead to next year's presidential election, what will be the most important issues that you will take into account when deciding whom to vote for?

Among those who say Iraq will be the most important issue in deciding whom to vote for in next year's presidential election, just about half (49%) say they trust the Democrats on all issues, while 20% trust the Republicans, and 24% have mixed views.

The war in Iraq is the dominant issue for Republicans, independents, and Democrats, but Democrats mention the war much more frequently. Roughly half of Democrats, 51%, say the war in Iraq will be the most important issue that they will take into account when deciding whom to vote for in next year's presidential election, compared with 31% of Republicans and 44% of independents.

Democrats (14%) also mention healthcare issues more often than Republicans (4%), while Republicans (15%) are more likely than Democrats (1%) to mention homeland security.

Survey Methods

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,007 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted April 13-15, 2007. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.