This way out

The Little Numbers Behind the Big Numbers

By Rick Horowitz

It's good to know "who," but don't you want to know "why"? Of course you do! What's the point of having an election if you can't peel the results apart like a giant pile of steamed shrimp sitting in some great All-U-Can-Eat bucket of democracy?

Well, you've come to the right place: no shrimp, but plenty of answers -- and no fuzzy math! Yes indeed, ladies and gents, it's time once again for the Ten-Foot Poll, the exit survey that leaves the big networks in the dust. Our sample of 1,342 randomly invented voters goes way behind the headlines to bring you insights and analysis you simply won't find anywhere else. At the Ten-Foot Poll, "We're never rude, but we catch your mood."

And what was your mood on this Election Day? Conflicted. Voters turned out on Tuesday with strongly competing claims on their loyalties. Asked by our pollsters, for instance, to sum up the presidential campaign in a phrase, voters said "this election was about..."

A. Restoring honor and dignity to the White House: 32%.

B. Fighting for working families against the special interests: 31%.

C. Six months too long: 37%.

The candidates tried throughout the campaign to appeal to voters' self-interest -- how well did they succeed? Quite well, if our results are any indication. Asked what they wanted the next president to offer the nation, voters in all income groups were nearly unanimous:

A. Bold and innovative leadership in domestic matters: 8%.

B. Calm and steady stewardship in foreign affairs: 11%.

C. Weekly checks in large denominations: 81%.

Not surprisingly, the two major-party candidates came across very differently to voters. Those who supported George W. Bush, for instance, said they were "most attracted by..."

A. His record as governor: 28%.

B. His strength of character: 24%.

C. His articulatiousness: 48%.

On the other hand, those who supported Al Gore said they were "most attracted by..."

A. His firm grasp of policy details: 17%.

B. His firm grasp of Tipper: 39%.

C. His really good posture: 44%.

Presidential campaigns often turn on some strategic decision that boosts the prospects of one of the candidates. Among this year's many decisions, our voters considered these the most significant:

A. Al Gore choosing Joseph Lieberman as his running mate: 10%.

B. Ralph Nader getting up on the wrong side of the bed: 28%.

C. George Bush putting Tom DeLay and Dick Armey in a lockbox: 62%.

The candidates spent much of their time this year courting "swing voters" in "battleground states" -- an effort that continued right through the closing hours of the campaign. So what was the one factor these crucial voters weighed most heavily in finally making their choices?

A. The candidates' policy positions: 15%.

B. The candidates' personal qualities: 14%.

C. Whether the groundhog saw his shadow: 71%.

Was "Clinton fatigue" a factor in the results? Probably so. Asked how they hoped Bill Clinton would be viewed by future generations, our respondents said this:

A. One of our greatest presidents: 22%.

B. A total sleazebag who should have been strung up by his thumbs: 25%.

C. Who?: 53%.

And finally, with the 2000 election almost ready for the history books, we asked our voters to name their favorites for the 2004 race. Their responses were extremely interesting:

A. "Get away from me, you sicko!": 16%.

B. "I'm calling the cops, I swear I am!": 29%.

C. "Hey, officer...!" 55%.

Posted 11/7/00. You're the big winner when you drop in on "Rick's" -- enjoy fresh stuff right here twice every week!

Rick Horowitz is a syndicated columnist, TV commentator, writing coach and public speaker

Search the Web Search Rick's!

©2000 Rick Horowitz. All rights reserved.