USAction Straw Poll: Overwhelming Majority of Rally-Goers Likely to Vote Democratic Tues., But Not as Excited as 2 Years Ago

**Stewart-Colbert Rally Straw Poll Results**

Pollster Celinda Lake: Extraordinarily Important That Campaigns Focus On Mobilization Nationwide, Based On Rally Straw Poll Results

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An overwhelming majority of the people who rallied with comedians John Stewart and Stephen Colbert today are likely to vote Democratic in Tuesday's Elections, but only one-in-four is more enthusiastic about voting this year compared to 2008, according to USAction's Straw Poll of rally participants conducted by Lake Research Partners.

While 86 percent of those surveyed plan on voting Democratic next week, another 8 percent said they are undecided with 1 percent planning to vote Republican. The remaining 5 percent say they are unlikely to vote – although the straw poll was conducted before the end of the rally when calls for civic participation were given full voice.

"As campaigns focus on mobilization nationwide, the survey data suggests that such efforts are extraordinarily important," said pollster Celinda Lake.

Voters surveyed reported only moderate enthusiasm for Tuesday's Election – only one-in-four (25 percent) said they are more enthusiastic about voting this cycle than they were in 2008, while a plurality (39 percent) said they are less enthusiastic and 36 percent saying their level of enthusiasm hasn't changed.

USAction president William McNary said, "Tuesday's Election isn't about witches or manning up. It's about real issues that matter to the future of our country."

"Our survey was designed to find out what they care about," said McNary. "This election is about jobs, health care, the economy, poverty, war and many other issues effecting Americans.  We want to find out what is truly driving people this election season."

A plurality (41 percent) say the President's number one priority ought to be improving the jobs situation, more than double the number who selected any of other issue option. Second tier priorities include quality education (18 percent), energy and the environment (17 percent), ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (13 percent) and improving health care (11 percent.)

About 87 percent of this audience believes the Obama Administration should prioritize "investing in programs that put people back to work" as opposed to "focusing on cutting spending instead" (13 percent.) In this regard, rally attendees appear to side heavily with the vast majority of economists when it comes to the proper course of action for reducing unemployment.

Most of the people who participated in the poll were supportive of President Obama and want his Administration to focus aggressively on a jobs creation agenda. An overwhelming majority (90 percent) approved of the President, including more than half (56 percent) who approve of him strongly. In contrast, only 10 percent disapproves of the President (2 percent strongly.)

The USAction Straw Poll was conducted by text message on cell phones. Participants Texted SANITY or FEAR to 228466 (ACTION) and received a short survey about their views on President Obama, Tuesday's election, and which issues they think are most important for the country.

SOURCE USAction