Social Issues Still Hold Sway with Voters Beyond Value Voters in the 2008 Primaries and Presidential Elections According to Select2008.com
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
The whole gamut of so-called divisive social issues have bubbled up to the top of Select2008.com’s live polling, based on last week’s over 300,000 votes. These issues include same-sex marriage, a constitutional amendment on marriage, partial birth abortion, the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy and restrictions to Second Amendment rights.
Highly contentious issues still hold sway with voters – beyond traditional value voters - in the 2008 presidential election cycle. This matter of fact runs counter to the conventional wisdom that values’ influence has diminished.
If the sample below is any indication, look for social values to make a resurgence as we move into the general campaign:
- The U.S. Constitution should define marriage as the union between a man and a woman – 47% agree and 44% disagree
- Prohibit same-sex marriage, but allow domestic partnerships providing to same-sex partners the same benefits as marriage – 42% agree and 49% disagree
- Support ban on partial birth abortion – 42% agree and 46% disagree
- The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, is right to ask to maintain the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy – 43% agree and 43% disagree
- Support restrictions to the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms under the Second Amendment – 50% agree and 41% disagree
Popularity: 35% [?]
