Poll: Threats to democracy top concern for US voters

2024-05-04 16:42:07, Kosova & Bota CNA

"Dangers to democracy" have become the main concern of American voters ahead of this year's presidential elections, surpassing the economy and immigration. VOA correspondent Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports on the findings of the latest Ipsos survey.

Heading into the March primaries, Democratic and Republican voters in Arizona were clear about who they wanted their party to nominate as their official presidential nominee.

"Joe Biden. I think he's the only candidate that offers us freedom, democracy and freedom for everyone, not just the people who vote for him," said voter Howard Webster.

"I voted for Donald Trump. I think he is the only one who wants to defend the Constitution, as it is written, and he is the only one who is being attacked by everyone else for this reason," says voter Nicholas Pela.

Political extremism and threats to democracy are the most important problems facing the United States, say voters polled by the Ipsos company in mid-April. Democrats are worried about authoritarianism.

"When the Democrats say to save democracy, they mean to save democracy from Trump. We call this the 'anti-Trump vote' and according to our calculations it is about 25% of the adult population", says Clifford Young, from the polling company Ipsos.

Independents support Democrats on these concerns, but Republicans see protecting democracy from a different angle.

"Many of the criticisms coming from the right, from among the Republicans, talk about a broken system, a system controlled by the elites, or manipulated by the elites. So after all, when Republicans talk about 'saving democracy'; they are talking about the election machinery and their justice," says Mr. Young.

Mr. Trump himself has instilled a sense of urgency in the ranks of his supporters.

"If we don't win on November 5, I think our country will cease to exist. It could be the last election for us. I have it in my mind," said Mr. Trump.

As he works for re-election, President Joe Biden also warns of the dangers he sees in Mr Trump's return to the White House.

"Our democracy is really in danger. "When he says he's going to be a dictator on day one, he means he's going to deny elements of the Constitution," President Biden said.

Considering that the polls are only a snapshot of the moment, about 38% of voters polled by the Ipsos company think that President Biden has a better plan against the dangers to democracy, compared to 29% who believe that Mr. Trump has the best plan. good.

"Biden is a candidate of the elites. He is a creature of the system. It is seen as the embodiment of order and stability. Trump represents the deviation from these elites," says Mr. Young.

After the defense of democracy, polled voters cited the economy and immigration as the main concerns ahead of the general election in November./ VOA