Iowa Poll: What Voters Need Help With

DES MOINES -- A Des Moines Register survey of likely Iowa caucus voters showed that most said they need more information about healthcare and tax issues and less information about Iraq, terrorism, abortion and gay marriage.

The Register survey, conducted by Selzer & Co. Pollsters, for the first time asked Iowans not only the issues most important to them -- but which issues they needed more information about.

The poll revealed that on Iraq, terrorism, abortion and gay marriage, voters already have what they need to make decisions, according to pollster Ann Selzer, who conducted the survey.

The poll also revealed that about half of voters surveyed said they were likely to read political blogs written by experts. Selzer said only a small number said they were likely to read blogs that were not written by experts.

What voters defined as "an expert" was unclear.

"It's easy to overestimate the power of the Internet. Looking at these select group of Iowans, we cannot underestimate the power of traditional media," Selzer said. "Voters also say they want and are demanding more diversity in the coverage of issues."

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack questioned how people really know they have enough information to make decisions on candidates and issues.

He criticized the recent presidential debates for focusing too much on Iraq and not enough on issues that "friends, family and community groups really care about,"

"There's been hardly any discussion of education in these debates," Vilsack said. "How do we break through and elevate the second tier issues beyond Iraq and the war on terror?"

Political strategist Matt Dowd said that it is a misconception that gay marriage was an issue that motivated voters to cast ballots in 2004. "The data shows it just wasn't the case. In 2004, it was more about Iraq and the war on terror. National security issues were the issues that motivated people," Dowd said.

Tom Rosenstiel, the director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, raised a larger point during the discussion. He said that recent research indicates that two-thirds of the presidential coverage has focused on the Democrats so far, while only about one-third has focused on the Republicans.