A Survey of African-American Likely Voters in South Carolina

With their state's January 29th primary still some nine months away, 85 percent of African American likely voters surveyed in South Carolina are already highly engaged in the 2008 Presidential race and closely following campaign news coverage. This April 2007 survey explores this critical constituency's domestic concerns and identifies issues its members want to see addressed by candidates.

Among those surveyed, there is widespread unhappiness with the status quo:

• 69 percent feel the country is “off on the wrong track”
• 71 percent consider the country more politically divided today than in the past
• 77 percent think the political process in Washington has seriously broken down

In the minds of these voters, the three most important issues facing the country today are:

• the war in Iraq (56%)
• economy/jobs (40%)
• health care (28%)

Nearly all want presidential candidates who commit to action on

• affordable health care (97%)
• retirement security (96%)
• family financial security (95%)

Many regard these issues as important considerations in their choice of a presidential candidate:

• affordable health care (85%)
• strengthening Social Security (82%)
• cost of prescription drugs (81%)

The random telephone survey of 700 African American likely voters in South Carolina was conducted for AARP and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies by Research America of New Town Square, PA. Further information about the survey may be obtained by contacting Jeffrey Love of AARP Knowledge Management at 202-434-6279 or David Bositis of the Joint Center at 202-789-3527. (28 pages)