August 21, 2004

Abstract: (CPOD) Aug. 21, 2004 - Financial matters remain a key election topic for American voters, according to a poll by CBS News. 24 per cent of respondents say they would like to hear the candidates discuss the economy and jobs during the presidential campaign.

(CPOD) Aug. 21, 2004 - Financial matters remain a key election topic for American voters, according to a poll by CBS News. 24 per cent of respondents say they would like to hear the candidates discuss the economy and jobs during the presidential campaign.

Official figures from the U.S. Labour Department indicated that the country added 32,000 new jobs in July, the smallest hiring increase since December 2003.

Yesterday in Missouri, treasury secretary John Snow said that the $350 billion U.S. tax cut plan signed by United States president George W. Bush last year has "served America with a helping of economic relief."

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry has stated that he would repeal the measure for Americans earning more than $200,000 U.S. a year.

The war in Iraq, health care, education and terrorism are next in the list of topics. The U.S. presidential election is scheduled for Nov. 2.

Polling Data

Which one issue would you most like to hear the candidates for president discuss during the 2004 presidential campaign?

	Aug. 2004	Jul. 2004
Economy / Jobs	24%	20%
War in Iraq	20%	23%
Health care / Medicare	12%	13%
Education	5%	5%
Terrorism (in general)	5%	3%
Defence / Military	4%	2%
Taxes / Internal Revenue Service	3%	--
Abortion	2%	2%
Foreign policy	2%	--
Budget deficit / National debt	2%	--
Same-sex marriage	2%	--

Source: CBS News
Methodology: Interviews to 835 registered American voters, conducted from Aug. 15 to Aug. 18, 2004. Margin of error is 3 per cent.