NH Dems and Repubs Agree: Next President Must Tackle Global Poverty and Health

WASHINGTON, D.C — New   Hampshire primary voters of both political parties agree that the next president should take the lead in fighting global poverty because it is both the moral thing to do and will make Americans more secure, according to the first-ever ONE Poll, released today.

“This election is an opportunity to ensure that our next president is committed to ending extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.  We can finally put an end to preventable diseases like malaria and live up to our nation’s tradition of compassion and leadership around the world,” ONE President & CEO Susan McCue said. “The ONE Poll shows that voters are ready to mobilize behind a candidate who takes on global poverty, hunger and health.”

ONE Vote ’08, ONE’s initiative to raise the priority of these issues with candidates, conducted the poll in New Hampshire, taking a hard look at voters’ opinions of the issues facing the world’s poorest nations and what the United States should to do address those challenges.  The survey, conducted by leading Republican and Democratic pollsters, McLaughlin & Associates and Peter D. Hart Research, explored attitudes toward alternative means for achieving concrete goals including the eradication of malaria and fighting HIV/AIDS, as well as presidential candidate preferences.

The ONE Poll found that more than nine in ten Democrats (93%) and eight in ten Republicans (84%) agree that the United States has a moral obligation to work to fight treatable, preventable disease, particularly those that children predominantly suffer from. Similarly, Democrats (90%) and Republicans (85%) agree that it is an important part of America’s legacy of compassion to lead efforts to address challenging problems such as this. When it comes to addressing these issues, Democrats (86%) and Republicans (67%) agree that presidential candidates must incorporate their plans to address global hunger and poverty issues in their foreign policy platforms. Additionally, eight in ten Democrats (81%) and Republicans (80%) agree that the next president should continue PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief), a historic effort to prevent and fight the spread of AIDS in Africa begun by President Bush.

“New Hampshire voters of all parties and most Americans want a president who takes the lead in repairing America’s reputation in the world,” said former Clinton press secretary Mike McCurry. “A strong commitment to improving the lives of those in the poorest countries on earth will improve our own standing and national security interests.”

“Republicans and Democrats are united in knowing these are the right steps to take,” said former Deputy Assistant to the President for Communications Tucker Eskew. “America’s history of compassion — including our recent success in providing lifesaving drugs to nearly a million Africans with HIV/AIDS — combined with our enthusiasm to meet a challenge head-on, give us all hope of making a difference in others’ lives and in our own standing around the world. With ONE Vote’s leadership from the grassroots up, I believe our next President will lead us in saving millions of children from senseless death and severe illness.”

“The first-ever ONE Poll shows what grassroots supporters on the ground are seeing, New Hampshire voters want the next president to take the lead in the fight against global disease and hunger,” ONE’s spokesperson Kimberly  Cadena said.  “Candidates who want to win in New   Hampshire should hear loud and clear that including a bold, aggressive strategy in their foreign policy to do the right thing and save lives is a winning strategy.”

ONE Vote is not endorsing any presidential candidate, but rather is working with each candidate on these critical issues of global poverty and health.