Associated Press (AP) and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research published Tuesday's poll found nearly twice as many Americans (about 40%) think foreign policy will be the top issue in 2024 compared to the same poll a year ago.
Polls found that both Republican and Democratic voters ranked foreign policy as a more important issue; which one Respondents varied in what they considered foreign policy to be most important. The Israeli-Hamas war is a clear cause for increased public anxiety, cited by about 5 percent of respondents as a cause for concern, compared to a year ago when Palestinian terrorism and Israel's response were cited as a major issue. There were “very few” people who thought so.
The Russia-Ukraine war appears to be about as important as in the previous survey, while concerns about the possibility of China invading Taiwan have increased.
A significantly higher percentage of respondents in 2024 are concerned about the United States becoming involved in a foreign conflict, about 20% this time, compared to 5% last year.
Forty-six percent of Republicans named foreign policy a top issue for 2024, compared to 23% in 2023. By contrast, 34% of Democrats cited foreign policy, compared to 16% last year.
The Associated Press reported that the economy remained the top issue for voters, as many poll respondents were acutely aware of how much money the U.S. government spends on foreign aid, particularly military aid to Ukraine and Israel. , who speculated that economic instability may have caused more foreign policy concerns.
The importance of immigration has also skyrocketed in the Associated Press poll, which may also be related to the increased focus on foreign affairs. Among Republican respondents, 55% want the government to focus on immigration next year, up from 45% last year. For Democrats, the percentage rose from 22% in 2024 to 14% in 2023.
Other polling organizations typically find increased interest in foreign policy among U.S. voters, although not at the same spike as the AP/NORC survey.Morning consultation participated in a public opinion poll In October, when the conflict between Israel and Hamas dominated the headlines, it found that 31% of Republicans and 29% of Democrats ranked foreign policy as a top five concern.
foreign policy tuesday columnist predicted The publication's namesake issue will remain on voters' minds through the 2024 election, but like AP/NORC poll respondents, their opinions on which foreign policy topics will have the most influence They varied.
For example, if the blockade of the Red Sea by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists continues until 2024, it is certain to have a significant negative impact on the global economy. Some analysts predict that China will take steps to correct its economic deterioration and attract the attention of countries around the world. U.S. voters will think so, especially if Beijing can wean the world away from dependence on the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency. If Donald Trump becomes the Republican candidate, trade issues with China are likely to play an important role in the issues in the general election.
Foreign policy is a notoriously touchy subject for political forecasters. After 9/11, when there is no clear threat like terrorism, voters are less likely to put aside domestic concerns and vote based on how the president handles problems abroad.
of LA Times December (LAT) guessed that 2024 could be a rare example of foreign affairs hurting an incumbent candidate. President Joe Biden's poll numbers on his handling of overseas crises are dismal, as some hard-line leftists are turning away from him over his support for Israel and Hamas.
“Biden must contend with a voting Middle Eastern diaspora, new human rights norms, and mass media that can broadcast images of Palestinian suffering 24 hours a day.” Latin I got it.
of Latin Independent voters are also concerned that they are “more in tune with Donald Trump's rhetoric than Joe Biden” regarding the extensive and expensive use of American power overseas. The latest AP/NORC poll similarly finds public opinion turning away from massive spending on foreign aid and military aid, a natural consequence of the domestic economic downturn fueled by irresponsible government spending. .
