Majority in Poll Favors Future With Democrats

In a race with no Ross Perot, Americans by large margins are more willing to entrust their future to the Democrats than to the Republicans, according to an Associated Press poll.

In addition, more Americans see the Democratic Party as closer to them on issues that matter, and better able to deal with the stagnant economy.

Still, only 38% considered a two-way race better for the country, according to the poll taken after Perot’s pullout. Reaction to Perot’s departure was split, with 35% saying the Texan betrayed his supporters, and 46% saying he did the right thing by dropping out.

Asked to choose between the two parties, 56% said the Democrats are closer to them on the issues they care about while 26% said the Republicans. The remainder didn’t know or were part of the 12% who said neither party was closer to them on the issues that matter.

The nationwide poll of 1,004 adults was taken by phone Friday through Tuesday by ICR Survey Research Group of Media, Pa., part of AUS Consultant Cos. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The poll--which did not ask respondents to specify a preference for Democrat Bill Clinton or Republican George Bush--showed how much the Democratic National Convention improved the party’s image.

More than a third, 39%, said they will be better off in future years if the Democrats win the presidential election, compared with 12% who expected to do better with a Republican President.

The same question six months ago resulted in a virtually even split, 22% for the Democrats, 20% for the Republicans. The percentage who said it wouldn’t make much difference which party won dropped from 51% to 44%.