It was among the issues that showed the biggest percent saying it should be a higher priority.
It is unfortunate that it takes a tragedy like that for people to see the system working at its best. When the stakes are high, the press does a good job and the public responds. ... It just doesn't come across in the daily barrage of cable shout shows.
There is a real sense of cynicism about the level of corruption in Washington. The feeling among public is it is endemic.
More independents, in particular, say partisan control will be a factor.
Bush stands at a precipice. He's lost ground among independents. He seems to be starting to lose ground among his own party. And he lost the Democrats a long time ago.
It hasn't broken through with the public in a big way.
Where Bush is beating Kerry among men and women alike is on leadership.
They're not following the ins and outs terribly closely, but they get a general impression that something need to be fixed.
It's a complicated issue, and the public's views aren't consistent.
People are looking for improvements there, and that's not something he has great control over, the day-to-day situation in terms of car bombs and sectarian violence.
