The Nation - News from Feb. 28, 1985

Fear of war, the arms race with the Soviet Union, and international tensions in general continue to be the dominant concerns of the American people. Unemployment is named next most often, with government spending the third-ranked public concern. In the latest Gallup Poll, fear of war and international unrest are cited by 27%, with unemployment named by 20% and government spending by 18%. For the first time since the spring of 1981, a significantly higher proportion of the public now believes the Republican Party (39%) rather than the Democratic Party (29%) can better handle the problem they consider most important.