NEW YORK CITY, New York: A poll conducted by Reuters and Ipsos reported that in the areas of immigration and crime, U.S. voters prefer Republicans over Democrats, indicating that the Republican focus on border security and combating crime could help in the midterm elections, to be held on 8th November.
The poll, conducted between 27th September and 3rd October, gathered responses from 4,415 American adults.
Its outcome also suggested that Republicans are favorites to win control of the U.S. House of Representatives and could also take the Senate.
Among registered voters, 40 percent favored the Republicans in their addressing immigration issues, while 32 percent favored the Democrats. In terms of solving crime problems, 39 percent picked Republicans and 30 percent chose Democrats. The remainder said they were uncertain or preferred another party or independents.
However, surging inflation remains the leading concern for U.S. voters, while crime and immigration are considered key motivators for core Republican voters to turn out and vote, as well as for taking votes away from independents and moderate Democrats.
The poll showed that, overall, 30 percent of registered voters said their top concern was inflation, while 5 percent chose immigration and 4 percent said crime.
Democrats are also being held back by some progressive members’ past support for measures to shift spending from police budgets to public services, such as mental health, according to officials.
Following a June ruling by the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned the constitutional right to abortion, 6 percent of registered voters who took part in the poll cited changing abortion laws as their main concern.
The poll also showed that on the issue of abortion, suburban women favored Democrats over Republicans by 40 to 24 percent.
“Abortion is a bigger issue for suburban women who are swing voters,” said Mike Mikus, a Democratic strategist in Pennsylvania, as quoted by Reuters.
Chuck Coughlin, a Republican strategist, said that while Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters has made deporting immigrants living in the country illegally his main issue, Republicans are feeling pressure over abortion.
“You have overwhelming numbers of female, suburban voters bailing on Republicans, based upon that issue,” he added.
