Poll Targets New Issue in Presidential Race

New York, NY, July 17, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The Government-Banking Complex Is the Emerging Enemy

Borrowing from references to the “military-industrial complex” that President Eisenhower included in his 1961 speech, U.S. voter surveys by Consensus Research Group point to the “government-banking complex” as the new “enemy” in this year’s presidential elections.

In a September 12, 2011 memorandum to clients, Consensus suggested that the general electorate will respond more consistently to the threat of an “enemy” than to any abstract issue. A candidate might identify that enemy as the nation’s ‘government-banking complex’ and the revolving door that rotates banking and financial services into and out of government offices and business networks.

Paraphrasing Eisenhower, the Consensus memorandum stated that the financial engineering and resulting bail-outs of 2008 reflected influence---economic, political and even spiritual---that was felt in every city, every state house, and every office of the federal government.

Now, eleven months later, Consensus voter surveys in July of 2012 point to public outrage at the socio-economic damage caused by the corrupt practices and devastating miscalculations of both financial institutions and the government agencies responsible for monitoring them.

Eisenhower’s words sounded the alarm more than fifty years ago when he warned against underestimating "the grave impact and future implications," and focused on the need to “guard against the continued acquisition of unwarranted influence, direct or through lobbyists and fundraisers, sought or unsought.”

July 2012 voter survey results also focus on “electability” as a key driver in this year’s presidential contest. In close contests, large numbers of voters [particularly blue collar/white/ males] often tend to be more concerned about picking "the winner" than candidate stands or qualifications on particular issues.

Most blue collar/white/male voters experience few personal victories, and seek surrogate victories from major team sports or political elections to offset their routine experiences on the job and at home.

In many races, the key polling question can often be, "Regardless of whom you yourself support in this year's election for president, which of the candidates do you think is most likely to be elected?"

Earlier survey findings in September of 2011 showed Romney as the likely Republican nominee, but positioned Jon Huntsman, Jr. as a potential contender. Interestingly, TV writer Aaron Sorkin recently stated that he found Jon Huntsman to be the most interesting subject for a future television series on politics.

Consensus Research Group Inc.
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