Iran Is Viewed As The Top Threat--To The US

RELEASE: IRAN NOW VIEWED AS TOP AMERICAN SECURITY THREAT, NEW POLL FINDS

For Immediate Release 
Contact: Eron Shosteck
Phone: 571-230-7300
Email: PRESS@SECUREAMERICANOW.ORG
September 19, 2011

You can download the Topline from the survey here.
You can download the cross tabs here.

NEW YORK, NY – Iran is now seen as the top national security threat to the United States, according to the findings of a new bipartisan poll of 1,000 Americans released by the non-partisan grassroots public interest group Secure America Now, and 96 percent of Americans view national security as an important factor when deciding their vote for the next president. The national poll of 1,000 likely 2012 election voters was conducted in August by Democrat Pat Caddell and Republican John McLaughlin. It has a +/- accuracy level of 3.1 percent.


The bipartisan poll found that after combining 1st and 2nd responses, 63 percent of those surveyed identified Iran as the top U.S. threat, with China next at 50 percent, followed by North Korea at 47 percent. Of the 96 percent saying security is important in deciding whom to vote for, 67 percent said that U.S. national security issues are "very" important. Complete results are online.

"The findings of this survey show that Americans remain ahead of their elected officials in determining issues atop the national agenda," Caddell said. "It's disappointing the GOP presidential candidates gave it such scant attention during their debate this week. Americans are clearly concerned about a broad range of security issues, ranging from Iran's nuclear threat, to China's potential aggression, to North Korea's unstable dictatorship. Politicians must listen."
"What is most striking in these findings is that even n the midst of the lingering recession, it's not just the economy stupid, it's national security, too." McLaughlin said. The poll also showed that 63.5 percent of those surveyed approve military action against Iran if sanctions do not stop their nuclear program, and 77.6 percent think current polices will fail.

"Though both the Bush and Obama administrations have been reticent to consider military options to address the threat posed by Iranian nukes, the American people are prepared to support such action should sanctions fail," said Secure America Now member Devon Cross, a former Defense Policy Board member and mother of two. "Americans across the political spectrum are focused on security, even though these issues get far less attention from politicians than these polling numbers indicate they should."

-----

These are the relevant questions from the poll:

9   Q8. -   WHICH COUNTRY IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES?              
                  - 1000         Total
                  -  348   34.8  IRAN                     
                  -  337   33.7  CHINA                    
                  -  176   17.6  NORTH KOREA              
                  -   39    3.9  RUSSIA                   
                  -   13    1.3  VENEZUELA                
                  -   30    3.0  OTHER                    
                  -   57    5.7  DK/REFUSED  



10   Q9. -   WHICH COUNTRY IS THE SECOND GREATEST THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES?       
                  - 1000         Total
                  -  291   29.1  NORTH KOREA              
                  -  280   28.0  IRAN                     
                  -  162   16.2  CHINA                    
                  -   81    8.1  RUSSIA                   
                  -   46    4.6  VENEZUELA                
                  -   16    1.6  OTHER                    
                  -  124   12.4  DK/REFUSED     



11   Q#. -   WHICH COUNTRY IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES?              
                           (COMBO 1ST AND 2ND CHOICE)                                              
                  - 1000         Total
                  -  628   62.8  IRAN                     
                  -  499   49.9  CHINA                    
                  -  467   46.7  NORTH KOREA              
                  -  120   12.0  RUSSIA                   
                  -  59    5.9  VENEZUELA                
                  -  102   10.2  OTHER       

Technorati Tag: Iran.