Home > Thinking Right > Archives > 2006 > October > 08
Sunday, October 8, 2006
You be the political reporter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today a change of directions. Not a permanent change, but an experiment.
The AJC reports in the Sunday edition that the top concerns of voters across the state in the governor’s race are crime and public safety, cited by 96 percent of those who participated in a Mason-Dixon poll of 625 likely voters conducted Sept. 27-29. Education was mentioned by 94 percent with “keeping taxes down” and health care availability cited by 92 percent. My reading of those concerns is, still, that it’s an incumbent’s year in Georgia.
Certainly the rash of high-profile crimes, like the school shootings, weigh on voters, but the randomness and the insanity of the shootings make it hard for voters to pinpoint a cause and to place blame. Education is a polling stand-by. When put on the spot, the clueless and the contented voter will cite education. It’s a catch-all good-citizen concern that requires no real knowledge.
Today’s mission, though, for Thinking Right contributors, is to play reporter. Over the last couple of days of travelling around Middle Georgia, I’ve seen no evidence that voters are in a foul mood. But you report: In your circles, what concerns to friends, family and associates express? Which races, state, local or federal, attract attention?
