Allow me to sum up the results: A) It's Bush's fault; and B) Barack Obama will solve all the world's problems.
From a press release issued by The Lincoln Institute:
Pennsylvania Delegates/Alternate Delegates to the Democratic National Convention rate the economy as the most pressing issue facing America, closely followed by energy prices and the war in Iraq.Complete numeric results can be obtained on-line at www.lincolninstitute.org
A survey of the Keystone state's delegation by the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research Inc. found social issues, such as abortion, gay marriage and crime are taking a back seat to economic issues as Democrats prepare to officially nominate U.S. Senator Barack Obama for President for the United States.
When it comes to energy-related issues Pennsylvania's Delegates/Alternate Delegates are in lock step with the positions taken by their soon-to-be nominee. One hundred percent of those responding to the survey said they favor the development of alternate fuels as a key solution to America's energy dependence problem.
Seventy-one percent cited conservation as a key solution. Only 14% of the delegation supports more domestic drilling, and just 5% want to import more foreign oil.
Eighty-two percent of the Democratic Delegates/Alternate Delegates say they are opposed to drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR), with 18% supporting the development of those resources. Senator John McCain’s proposal for a gas tax "holiday" also garnered little support among the Democrats, with just 16% in favor of the idea.
Pennsylvania's delegation to the Democratic National Convention does not see it as America's duty to spread democracy throughout the world. Eighty-three percent said the spread of democracy should not be a goal of American foreign policy. In line with that 87% said the United States has shouldered too much of the load in its role as "world policeman."
In critiquing the Bush Administration's foreign policies, 77% said those policies have made the world "much less secure" and another 18% said the world is "somewhat less secure."
Not a single Delegate or Alternate credited President Bush with having made the world more secure. Driving that response is the war in Iraq, which 100% of the Delegates/Alternate Delegates said was a foreign policy mistake.
On the economy the Bush Administration's policies are again blamed for the nation's ills. Ninety-three percent of the Pennsylvania delegation said the President is to blame for problems with the nation's economy, while another 73% blames corporate America. Forty-seven percent of the Democratic Delegates/Alternates placed the blame on Congress, which is controlled by their own party.
When it comes to tax policy, 91% oppose making the Bush tax cuts permanent, 57% support a hike in the Capital Gains Tax Rate from 15% to 28%, 67% favor lowering the personal income tax rate and another 67% say they oppose free trade agreements such as NAFTA and CFTA.
In a rare area of agreement with their counterparts in the Republican Party, 60% of the Democratic Delegates/Alternate Delegates said federal "earmarks," specific spending directed by a Member of Congress, are wasteful spending. A slight majority of the delegation, 52% oppose term limits on Members of Congress.
State Level Issues
Delegates/Alternate Delegates to the Democratic National Convention do not support one of the Rendell Administration’s key policy initiatives – the leasing of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Sixty-two percent oppose leading the turnpike, 52% of them say they strongly oppose the plan. Sixty percent of the delegation also says they oppose higher gas taxes to pay for road and bridge repair. What the delegation does support is the tolling of Interstate 80; sixty-six percent agree with that concept.
When told the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is currently in debt in the amount of $110 billion, or about $9,000 for every citizen of the state, 67% of the Democratic Delegates/Alternate Delegates surveyed say that debt level is too much; another 31% said the debt level was about right; and 2% said it was not enough.
Although organized labor and Democratic Party are often viewed as synonymous, 67% of Pennsylvania’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention say they favor a Right to Work law. Such a law would make it illegal for a worker to be fired or kept from having a job for either joining or not joining a labor union. However, 61% believe that public employees – such as teachers, firemen, and state workers – should be required to pay dues and belong to a union as a condition of employment.
Demographics
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is sending a very liberal delegation to the Democratic National Convention. Sixty-two percent of the Delegates/Alternates responding to the Lincoln Institute survey say they are liberal; 46% say they are "somewhat" liberal while 15% say they are "very" liberal. Thirty-five percent say they are political moderates while just 4% admitted to being conservative.
Perhaps owing to the influence of Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign women outnumber men in the Pennsylvania delegation by a three-to one margin. Barack Obama's desire to bring young people into the system was less successful as just 12% of the Democratic delegation is under the age of 30. The bulk of the delegates responding are between the ages of 50 and 65.
Methodology
The Lincoln Institute's fourth quadrennial survey of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Democratic National Convention was conducted electronically between July 15 and August 15, 2008. A total of 60 Delegates and Alternates participated in the poll.
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