WOMEN’S PRIORITIES 2006
Executive Summary 
November 2, 2006

• Telephone survey conducted between September 28 and October 9
• Random sample of 2,097 registered voters, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation of Princeton NJ.
• margin of error of two percentage points.

ISSUE PRIORITIZATION

What will be the single most important issue in your vote for Congress this year? The second most important issue?

Open-ended; pre-coded

Most Important Issue

• For most categories of people, Iraq is the top issue. Overall, 14% of registered voters say it is the most important issue in their vote. Only 7% of the overall sample say that the economy is most important, followed by health care and terrorism at 6%, and education and immigration at 5%.

• Iraq is also the top issue for the largest number of women voters at 12%. About an equal number of women voters cite health care (8%), education (7%) and the economy (7%) as their top issue.

• Iraq also tops the list for men at 15%, followed by the economy and terrorism (7%) and health care (4%).

• There are some small gender gaps. Four percent more women than men cite health care and education as their top concern, and 4% more men then women cite immigration as their top concern.

• Across demographic groups, the highest percentages of people who say Iraq is the most important issue are low-income men (19%), college educated women (18%) and older women (17%).

• Iraq is statistically tied with other issue for first place for several demographic groups, including Hispanic men and women, low-income women, women with high school or less, young men, single women, married moms and moms overall.

• Approximately the same number of low-income women, women with high school or less, and single women cite health care as the top issue as cite Iraq.

• Approximately the same number of Hispanic women cite education as the top issue as cite Iraq.

• Approximately the same number of Hispanic men and young men cite immigration as the top issue as cite Iraq.

• The highest percentage of married moms, often in the past referred to as “security moms”, cite education (11%) and the economy (10%) as their top issues. Iraq is basically tied in second place with abortion at 8% and 9% respectively. Only 4% of married moms cite terrorism as their top issue.

• Many more moms (whether married or single), cite education as a top concern than cite terrorism (11% vs. 4% for married moms, 7% vs. 3% for single moms, and 10% vs. 3% for all moms).

• White women and white men (6% and 8%, respectively) are more likely than black women and black men (0% and 1%, respectively) to say terrorism will be the single most important issue.

• African-American women and men (6% and 7%, respectively) and low-income men (5%) are most likely to say jobs and unemployment is the most important issue (as compared to 1% to 3% of other demographic groups).

• Terrorism is the top issue for Republicans overall (13% terrorism, followed by 9% for immigration and 7% for Iraq).

• Republican women also cite terrorism as the top issue (11%); followed by education (9%); the economy, health care and abortion tied at 6%; and then Iraq and the economy tied at 5%.

• Iraq is by far the top issue for Democrats overall (19%), followed by health care (9%) and the economy (8%).

• Democratic women have the same ranking as Democrats overall: Iraq (17%), Health Care (12%) and the economy (8%).

• Only 1% of Democrats overall and of Democratic women cite terrorism as the most important issue.

Most/Second Most Important Issue

• Iraq also tops the list of the most or second most important unaided issue in registered voters’ vote for Congress this year with one-quarter (23%) citing it. One in ten registered voters cite the economy (15%), health care (13%), education (11%), terrorism (10%) or immigration (9%) as the most or second most important issue in their vote.

• For men, the highest percentage of voters says that Iraq is the most or second most important issue (25%), followed by the economy (18%), terrorism (12%) and immigration (11%).

• For women, aside from Iraq also topping the list at 21%, the priorities are very different. The second highest percentage of women say that health care is most or second most important, followed by education and the economy.

• Looking again at married moms (the former “security moms”), the highest percentage say that education is the most or second most important issue (23%), followed by Iraq (16%), health care (15%), the economy (13%).

• Whereas Iraq is on top for registered voters overall, terrorism comes out as the first or second priority for Republican voters (19%). The economy (16%), Iraq (15%) and immigration (15%) tie for second place.

• For Republican women, terrorism and education tie as the combined most/second most important issue at 15%, closely followed by Iraq, the economy and health care at 13%.

• Iraq is far and above the top combined most/second most important issue for Democrats overall at 31%, followed by health care at 17%, the economy at 15% and education at 12%. Similarly for Democratic women, the numbers are Iraq (28%), health care (22%), education (14%) and the economy (13%).

• For Democrats overall and Democratic women, terrorism is cited by only 4% as the most or second most important issue.

ISSUE IMPORTANCE

How important will each of the following issues be to your vote for Congress this year? Will it be extremely important, very important, moderately important, or not that important?

Closed-ended. Choices given: Iraq, Education, Terrorism, Health Care, Immigration, the Economy, Environment or Global Warming, Stem Cell Research

Extremely important to your vote

• Overall 36% of people say that health care, education, Iraq and terrorism are extremely important to their vote. This is followed closely by the economy at 32%.

• There are gender gaps on all issues except Iraq and immigration. In all cases, a higher percentage of women than men think the issue is extremely important. The highest gender gaps are on health care (10% more women than men say it will be extremely important to their vote) and on education (8% more women than men say it will be extremely important to their vote).

• A majority of black women and single moms say health care and education are extremely important (between 53 and 56%).

• A plurality of married moms (42%) say education is extremely important, followed by terrorism (37%) and health care (32%). Iraq then ties the economy at 30%.

• A much larger percent of black (34%) and Hispanic (38%) women say environment/global warming is extremely important than white women (20%).

• Terrorism continues to top the list for Republicans overall (41%) and for Republican women (43%).

• The Democratic agenda is more diffuse, with health care and Iraq basically tied at 45% and 44%, followed by education at 42%.

• The highest percentages of Democratic women cite health care (48%) and education (46%) as extremely important to their vote, closely followed by Iraq at 44%.

• Terrorism is lower in the rankings for Democrats, but still 33% of Democrats overall and 38% of Democratic women consider it to be an extremely important issue.

Extremely or very important to your vote

• Three-quarters of registered voters consider education (77%), the economy (76%) or healthcare (74%) to be extremely or very important in their vote for Congress this year. Seven in ten feel Iraq (73%) or terrorism (70%) are extremely or very important issues in their vote.

• Single women with kids are more likely than married women with kids to say the economy is an extremely or very important issue to their vote (91% vs. 73%).

• Single women are more likely than married women (61% vs. 49%) to rate the environment or global warming as an extremely or very important issue to their vote. Similarly, single women with kids are more likely to rate the environment or global warming as an extremely or very important issue to their vote than are married women with kids (71% vs. 41%).

• Black women are more likely than Hispanic women and white women to rate education (98% vs. 85% and 79%, respectively), the economy (95% vs. 86% and 75%, respectively) and healthcare (92% vs. 85% and 76%, respectively) as extremely or very important issues in their vote.

• Hispanic women (66%) and black women (64%) are more likely than white women (51%) to rate the environment or global warming as extremely or very important. Similarly, Hispanic men (60%) and black men (70%) are more likely than white men (46%) to feel the same way.

• Low income women are more likely than higher income women to consider education (84% vs. 75%), healthcare (84% vs. 71%) and the environment or global warming (58% vs. 43%) as extremely or very important issues in their vote this year. Low income women are also more likely than low income men to rate terrorism (76% vs. 68%) as extremely or very important issues.

MORE LIKELY/LESS LIKELY TO VOTE BY ISSUE

I’m going to read you some positions that someone running for Congress could take. For each one, please tell me whether you would be more likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who takes this position, less likely to vote for this candidate, or would it not make a difference to you either way?

• Favors increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour over the next two years
• Favors repealing recent tax cuts on investment income that benefited those in the top income brackets in order to meet the country’s health and education needs
• Favors a national policy that guarantees affordable, accessible and quality health care for all, regardless of whether you are employed
• Favors guaranteeing paid sick days for all workers
• Favors withdrawing troops from Iraq within the next 12 months
• Favors allowing terrorist suspects held by the U.S. military to have the right to hear the charges brought against them in a U.S. federal court
• Favors comprehensive sex education in schools that includes teaching about birth control and safe sex, as well as abstinence
• Favors ensuring that couples have access to safe and effective birth control methods
• Favors emphasizing cooperation with other countries, rather than unilateral military actions, to root out terrorism and make our country more secure
• Favors fully funding the Violence Against Women Act to ensure adequate support for domestic violence shelters, prevention programs and rape crisis centers
• Favors increasing federal grant support for students who cannot otherwise afford to attend colleges and universities
• Favors expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research in order to look for cures or treatments for diseases

More likely to vote summary

• Overall, all of the issues are supported by at least 49% of registered voters.

• The issues with the most support across the board are fully funding the Violence Against Women Act, guaranteeing affordable health care, increasing student aid, cooperation with other countries, and increasing the minimum wage. (See table below.)

Ranking of policy positions overall (by percent “more likely to vote” for candidate who favors that position):

*not statistically significant

• There are gender gaps on “more likely to vote” on paid sick days (15%), violence against women (12%), withdrawing troops from Iraq (11%), raising the minimum wage (9%), increasing student aid (8%) and health care (7%).

• Black women are particularly supportive of some of these issues: 91% are more likely to vote for a candidate favoring full funding of VAWA, 92% health care for all, and 90% student aid. These percentages are significantly higher than white women (80%, 72% and 68% respectively), and in the case of VAWA, also black men (80%).

• As a matter of fact, on every issue except stem cell research, black women are either the most or second most likely to vote for the candidate that favors the stated position. (This is also the case for blacks overall.) There are very large gaps on many of these issues between black and white women. With the exception of stem cell and birth control, the gap is more than 10%.

• Single moms are also very strong supporters of these issues: 94% are more likely to vote for a candidate who favors increased student aid; 89% minimum wage; 88% health care for all; 83% VAWA.

• The only issue in which there seems to be a gap between dads and men overall is on student aid (72% of dads more likely to vote vs. 65% of men overall).

• The issue with the strongest bi-partisan support is fully funding the Violence Against Women Act. Overall, 75% of registered voters would be more likely to vote for a candidate favoring this position. For Republicans overall it is 67% and for Republican women it is 76%. Republican men are the least likely to vote for such a candidate, but still over half of them would (59%).

• Student aid also has considerable bi-partisan support, with 57% of Republicans overall and 61% of Republican women more likely to vote for a candidate who favors increased funding.

• Emphasizing cooperation with other countries has about the same levels of support as student aid.

• Half of Republicans overall, compared to 83% of Democrats overall, would be more likely to vote for a candidate favoring increasing the minimum wage. Republican women (56%) are much more likely to support such a candidate than Republican men (44%).

• Similarly on “health care for all”, a little more than half of Republicans overall, compared to 87% of Democrats overall, would be more likely to vote for a candidate favoring this position. Republican women (57%) are more likely to support such a candidate than Republican men (49%).

• For all the other issues, between 30% and 40% of Republican overall and of Republican women would be more likely to vote for a candidate taking that position.

• The other issues with large gender gaps on the Republican side are withdrawing troops from Iraq (11% gap – see below) and paid sick days (14% gap – 48% of Republican women more likely to vote vs. 34% of Republican men).

• The only issue with a large gender gap on the Democratic side is paid sick days (15% gap – 72% of Democratic women more likely to vote vs. 57% of Democratic men).

More/Less/No Difference Summary by Gender and Race/Ethnicity

• For all of the issues, at least twice as many voters are more likely than are less likely to vote for a candidate favoring the position.

• Overall, registered voters are at least five times more likely than less likely to vote for a candidate who supports:

• fully funding VAWA (11 times)
• a higher minimum wage (5 times)
• a national guarantee of affordable, accessible and quality health care (5 times)
• increasing student aid (5 times)
• emphasizing cooperation with other countries (5 times)

• Women are at least five times more likely than less likely to vote for a candidate who supports:
• fully funding VAWA (20 times)
• a higher minimum wage (7 times)
• a national guarantee of affordable, accessible and quality health care (6 times)
• increasing student aid (6 times)
• guaranteed paid sick days for all workers (5 times)
• emphasizing cooperation with other countries (5 times)

• Women of color overall are at least five times more than less likely to vote for a candidate who supports:

• full funding of the Violence Against Women Act (17 times)

• a national guarantee of affordable, accessible and quality health care (17 times)
• a higher minimum wage (16 times)
• increasing student aid (12 times)
• guaranteed paid sick days for all workers (12 times)
• emphasizing cooperation with other countries (8 times)
• ensuring that couples have access to safe and effective birth control (6 times)
• comprehensive sex education in schools (6 times)

• African American women are at least five times more than less likely to vote for a candidate who supports:
• a national guarantee of affordable, accessible and quality health care (46 times)
• a higher minimum wage (43 times)
• guaranteed paid sick days for all workers (41 times)

• full funding of the Violence Against Women Act (18 times)

• increasing student aid (15 times)
• emphasizing cooperation with other countries (9 times)
• comprehensive sex education in schools (8 times)
• ensuring that couples have access to safe and effective birth control (7 times)
• repealing recent tax cuts (6 times)

• Hispanic women are at least five times more than less likely to vote for a candidate who supports:

• full funding of the Violence Against Women Act (14 times)

• a national guarantee of affordable, accessible and quality health care (11 times)
• increasing student aid (9 times)
• guaranteed paid sick days for all workers (8 times)
• a higher minimum wage (8 times)
• emphasizing cooperation with other countries (8 times)
• ensuring that couples have access to safe and effective birth control (6 times)
• comprehensive sex education in schools (5 times)

Iraq Troop Withdrawal

• Voters are two times more likely than less likely to support candidates who favor withdrawing American troops from Iraq within 12 months.

• Women have a three to one preference for candidates with this position.

• 83% of Black women voters would be more likely to vote for candidates who favor withdrawal from Iraq, vs. only 9% who would be less likely, a margin of 9 to 1.

• 68% of Hispanic women voters would be more likely to vote for candidates who favor withdrawal from Iraq, vs. 11% who would be less likely, a margin of 6 to 1.

• Across the country, voters are more likely than less likely to vote for a candidate who favors troop withdrawal in 12 months:

• In the Northeast, the margin is 3 to 1.
• In the South, it’s a 2 to 1 margin
• In the West, 51% are more likely to vote for such as candidate vs. 30% less likely.

• This is definitely a highly charged partisan issue: 75% of Democrats overall are more likely to vote for a candidate favoring this position vs. 29% of Republicans.

• Although a minority, a higher percentage of Republican women (35%) than Republican men (24%) would be more likely to vote for such a candidate, a gap of 11%.

• Independent men are basically split on the issue (47% more likely, 28% less likely and 22% no difference), whereas Independent women solidly support candidates calling for withdrawal (60% more likely, 12% less likely, 26% no difference).

• Democratic women are slightly more likely to favor withdrawal than Democratic men (7% gap – 78% vs. 71%).