58% of voters more likely to vote for '08 candidate who sets goal of halving poverty within a decade

Poverty appears poised to be a major issue heading into the 2008 elections, with 55% saying they are very concerned about it, and 58% of likely voters saying they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who set a national goal of cutting poverty in half within a decade. Just 8% said they would be less likely to vote for such a candidate. This issue had particular resonance with Democratic Party voters, where 40% of likely voters said they would be “much more likely” to vote for such a candidate.

Voters also dismissed the notion that poverty is the fault of the impoverished, with eight in 10 respondents blaming poor-paying jobs and the high cost of education and healthcare for poverty.

Three-quarters of voters, meanwhile, backed guaranteed health care coverage for Americans and increasing the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.