National

Economy and Race Relations Seen as Growing Concerns Ahead of November Election

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia

As President Donald Trump flipflops on whether he would back a new stimulus proposal to help stabilize a volatile market and provide a lifeline to struggling Americans, the latest Gallup poll revealed that the economy remains a major concern ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

The poll, released on Oct. 5, listed national security and terrorism as the next biggest concern followed by education, healthcare, crime, the COVID-19

response and race relations.

Gallup has frequently asked the “most important” concern question since 1939. The survey became monthly in 2001.

The latest poll revealed that nine out of 10 respondents identified the economy as extremely or very important to their vote — about 83 percent listed national security and terrorism as top concerns.

Education (82 percent), healthcare (80 percent), crime (79 percent), the COVID-19 response (77 percent) and race relations (76 percent) all followed.

“It is not surprising that voters overall rate the economy as the most important issue impacting their vote for president this year given the fragile state of the U.S. economy and their tendency historically to prioritize it and other issues such as national security and education,” Gallup pollsters wrote.

In a June 4 Gallup survey, 19 percent of Americans named race relations as

the nation’s top problem in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

According to Gallup, that was, by one point, the highest percentage since July 1968, and it served as an example of periodic points in time when mentions of race as the most important problem reach double digits.

“Everything else being equal; however, the historical record predicts that race will eventually fall back into its latent status, scoring relatively few mentions as a top-of-mind issue,” Dr. Frank Newport, a Gallup senior scientist, wrote.

“This exemplifies the substantial challenge facing leaders who are seeking significant and lasting change in the nation’s race situation. The less top of mind race is as a major problem; presumably, the less likely politicians are going to feel pressure to take action.”

A separate poll conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based financial website, WalletHub, staged a deep dive into which political party is best for the country.

The poll revealed that overall the economy had performed best under a Democratic presidency and Republican Congress.

In the past 70 years, the real Gross Domestic Product has grown fastest under Democratic control of both the executive and legislative branches of government, at an average of 4.22 percent per year, and most slowly under a Democratic presidency and divided Congress, at an average of 2.04 percent per year, the WalletHub survey found.

Despite Trump’s seeming obsession with the stock market, Wall Street has performed best under a Democratic presidency and Republican Congress. The S&P 500 produced an average annual return of 16.22 percent, and worst under a Republican presidency and Democratic Congress, with an average yearly return of 4.51 percent.

Further, as stimulus talks stall and Trump throws cold water on negotiations, the annual unemployment rate change has had the highest decrease (0.85 percent, on average) under a Democratic presidency and divided Congress.

It had the highest increase (0.26 percent, on average) under a Republican presidency and Democratic Congress.

According to the survey, the annual poverty rate change has had the highest decrease (0.66 percent, on average) under a Democratic presidency and Republican Congress and the highest increase (0.05 percent, on average) under a Republican presidency and Democratic Congress.

The survey also found that the change in annual national debt as a percentage of GDP (adjusted for inflation) has had the highest decrease (0.76 percent, on average) under a Democratic presidency and Republican Congress and the highest increase (2.82 percent) under a Democratic presidency and divided Congress.

“I think [Democratic Presidential nominee] Joe Biden will be better for the economy for two reasons. First, he is actually listening to real economists, as far as policymaking is concerned,” said Shantanu Bagchi, a WalletHub expert and associate professor in the Department of Economics at Towson University in Maryland.

“He understands the key issues why so many Americans have been cut out from their fair share of economic prosperity and the promise of hard work as a means to a better life.”

Bagchi continued:

“Second, he is predictable and has a comprehensive vision of how to move the economy forward for everyone. Trump, unfortunately, is more concerned with personal wealth accumulation using the Presidency as a tool. He lacks a basic understanding of economics, does not listen to experts and has no vision of the economy apart from how he and others like him can personally benefit from it.”

WI

NATIONAL

Skipping Debate Leaves Little Doubt about How Unhinged Trump Remains

By Stacy M. Brown the commission said in a statement. publicans bristled at Trump’s behavior the president’s race-baiting and ripped nominee Amy Coney Barrett as a “suWI Senior Writer Biden said he was looking forward and callousness before and after be- Trump for his refusal to condemn per spreader” event. @StacyBrownMedia to the second contest after a bizarre coming infected. white supremacists. More than a dozen people who atSept. 29 performance by Trump, who “Don’t be afraid of COVID. Don’t Also, in Trump’s continued assault tended the event has tested positive for

Donald Trump’s refusal to partici- repeatedly ignored a moderator’s re- let it dominate your life,” Trump on fallen military members, he sug- Covid-19. pate in the second presidential debate quest to allow the former vice president bellowed right after leaving Walter gested that Gold Star families – those “The data speak for themselves,” dehas again fueled chaos in American to speak uninterrupted. Reed National Military Medical Cen- whose relatives have died in conflicts – clared Fauci, a member of the White politics. “Vice President Biden looks forward ter, where he received treatment for could have spread the virus at a White House Coronavirus Task Force. “We

The president instead plans to hold to making his case to the American COVID-19. House event in September. had a super spreader event in the massive campaign rallies despite his people about how to overcome this The president staged what he appar- While the New York Times noted White House, and it was in a situation coronavirus diagnosis. The debate was pandemic, restore American leadership ently hoped was a triumphant return that there’s no evidence for Trump’s where people were crowded together to take place at 9 p.m. on Thursday, and our alliances in the world, and to the White House after exiting the claim, Fauci referred to the reception and were not wearing masks.” Oct. 15. bring the American people together,” hospital. for the president’s Supreme Court WI

Instead, Democratic Nominee Joe Biden campaign spokesman Andrew However, upon arrival, he found a Biden will participate in a town hall Bates said in a release. “It’s shameful mostly empty White House and that discussion hosted by ABC News. that Donald Trump ducked the only at least 20 members of his inner circle

Trump declined to participate after debate in which the voters get to ask also joined him and First Lady Melania the Commission on Presidential De- the questions – but it’s no surprise.” Trump in testing positive for the virus. bates decided to hold the contest virtu- Trump’s bailing from the debate Agitated by his diagnosis, Trump ally because of the president’s Covid-19 follows a week of unhinged activity appeared this week on Rush Limdiagnosis. in which the president called his dis- baugh’s radio show, where he used pro-

Commission members said they ease “nothing to be afraid of,” and his fanity and attacked Harris, among othacted to move the debate online on the aides still criticizing Biden for wearing ers, calling the vice-presidential hopeful overwhelming advice of health experts. a mask. and accomplished African American

It’s not yet known if the scheduled Trump’s campaign also blasted senator a “monster.” third debate on Oct. 22, will happen. Democratic Vice President Nominee The strange and unprecedented

“It is now apparent there will Kamala Harris for demanding social behavior exhibited by the president be no debate on Oct. 15, and the distancing and plexiglass to separate continued with his attacks on NBA CPD will turn its attention to her from Vice President Mike Pence Superstar LeBron James, referring to 5 In a photo dated April 2020, President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike preparations for the final presiden- during their debate. the future Hall of Famer as a “hater.” Pence meet with patients who recovered from COVID-19 in the Cabinet Room of the tial debate scheduled for Oct. 22,” Dr. Anthony Fauci and some Re- James has continually denounced White House. (Courtesy photo/whitehouse.gov)

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