Key Swing Voters Say the Economy is Defining Issue for April 22 Primary

Washington, DC- Pennsylvania Catholics identify the economy as their top concern and say jobs outsourced to other countries is the most critical issue in this election year, according to a poll released today by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good (CACG). Conducted by Zogby International, the poll of 404 Catholic voters comes less than a week before an April 22 primary when Catholics will comprise about a third of Pennsylvania's electorate.

Almost sixty percent of Catholic voters (58%) said the economy will most influence their vote in the primary. When asked about the specific economic issue they were most concerned about, an overwhelming 73% said manufacturing and other jobs leaving the country.

Eighteen percent identified the Iraq war and eight percent named health care as the issue that would most impact their vote. A majority of Pennsylvania Catholics (69%) want the new president to either set a clear time table for withdrawing troops from Iraq (36%) or remove them within the first year of taking office (33%).

"Catholics in Pennsylvania want candidates to focus on the common good and questions of economic justice," said Lois Campbell, a local outreach coordinator for CACG and vice president of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network. "As faithful citizens, Catholics recognize that our government has a moral obligation to ensure our economy works for all Americans, not just a privileged few."

Living up to their reputation as quintessential swing voters, Catholics said they were more likely to vote for candidates who stand for values they believe in (51%) and those who can move beyond partisanship to produce results (37%) than a specific political party (11 %).

Two-thirds (67%) of Pennsylvania Catholics believe classes that help young men and women make responsible sexual decisions are most likely to reduce abortions. Fifty-one percent believe services that support at-risk mothers by providing quality pre and post-natal care and access to child care/nutrition assistance are most likely to reduce abortions, while another half (50%) cite support for adoption. Twenty-nine percent chose making abortions illegal. The telephone survey, conducted April 1 through April 2, has a margin of error +/- 5.0 percentage points. Both Democratic and Republican voters were polled.

Since 1972, Catholics have voted for the winner of the presidential election with the exception of 2000. Al Gore won the Catholic and the popular vote that year, but lost the Electoral College after George W. Bush narrowly won Florida.

"Both political parties have sophisticated Catholic outreach strategies, and Catholic voters will again play a critical role in choosing our next president," said Alexia Kelley, Executive Director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. "Candidates courting the Catholic vote must pay attention to the deep vision of Catholic social teaching that emphasizes the dignity of the human person, economic justice, and the moral scandal of war."

Catholics in Alliance is hosting a series of forums on faith, politics and the common good that bring together Catholic social justice leaders, community organizers and representatives from religious organizations during this election year. The next common good forum will be held April 17 at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. These events will culminate with a national Convention for the Common Good in Philadelphia July 11-13. Over 600 delegates from faith communities and social justice organizations will attend the convention and ratify a common good platform to be presented to the presidential candidates and the Democratic and Republican National Committees.

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good promotes awareness of Catholic social teaching and its core values of justice, dignity and the common good to Catholics, the media and Americans of all faiths. Through communications, grassroots outreach and strategic coordination, Catholics in Alliance works to advance the common good in the American public square. For more information please visit http://www.catholicsinalliance.org/.