Locking down the economy, again, split along party lines: poll

To lock down or not to lock down? The issue has become a highly partisan one according to the latest Franklin Pierce University-Boston Herald poll.

While three-quarters of Democratic voters said that the federal government’s top priority should be to limit the spread of the coronavirus, even if it hurts the economy, only one third of Republicans feel the same way.

The issue works the other way as well.

Only 14% of Democratic voters and 56% of Republican voters believe that the federal government’s priority should be to restart the economy, even if it increases the risk to public health.

A majority of respondents overall believe that the federal government’s main priority should be to focus on keeping down the spread of the coronavirus. However, nearly a third disagree and want the federal government to put a premium on rejuvenating the economy.

The division on the issue goes beyond party lines.

Women are confident that the top priority of the government should be to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Sixty percent of female respondents said the federal government’s priority should be to limit the spread of the coronavirus, even if it hurts the economy, while only a quarter of females said the federal government’s priority should be to restart the economy.

Forty percent of men felt that the economy should be tops in terms of issues for the federal government. Only 48% of men believe that the federal government should prioritize public health over the economy.

Presidents Trump’s focus is now on treatment and vaccines while former Vice President Biden continues to push to keep the spread of the virus down.

Less than a week before the election, it seems that America is still polarized in deciding the approach to handling the pandemic.

The question remains: will the candidates differing positions on how to handle the economy be the deciding factor when American’s head to the ballot box? We’ll find out Tuesday.

Fitzwater Scholar Kaitlyn Acciardo is a sophomore at Franklin Pierce University studying political science. She is from Hampden, Mass.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3kEpYr5