Q: What are the issues most important to voters in this election?

A: The dominant issues at the moment are the Iraq War, terrorism, and the economy. For most voters, at the end of the day, it is all about how well the president has done on those issues. After those issues comes health care, and, in this election, health care is an economic issue driven principally by voters who are worried about paying bills. While people are concerned about the uninsured, the biggest issue is that premiums have gone up 50 percent in four years for those who do have insurance. Seniors are worried about the new Medicare prescription drug bill. They are concerned the plan will not protect them from the high cost of drugs. Social issues, such as abortion and stem cell research, do not vigorously drive voters, but those who care about these issues care about them a lot.

Q: Are the health care plans of President Bush and Senator Kerry easily distinguishable, and how will voters decide which plan they like best?

A: In general, people believe Democrats are more proactive about health care issues and will spend more money on them. While Senator Kerry isn’t talking about a government plan, voters find it hard to listen to him and still believe his plan would not raise middle-class taxes. President Bush is perceived as likely doing less about health care, but unlikely to raise taxes. Voters are aware of this difference.

Q: The country seems to be as polarized as it ever has been. Do the polls back that up and, if so, why are we so polarized?

A: The polarization is extraordinary. President Bush’s approval rating is 87 percent among Republicans and 16 percent among Democrats. Even during the Vietnam War, President Nixon carried huge numbers of Democrats. The reason we are so polarized now has to do with the fact that the president made the decision that his success would be rooted in his own party.

Q: If Democrats and Republicans vote for their parties, it would seem that the election will hinge on the Independents and undecideds. Who are they, and what issues will push them to vote for either side?

A: An ABC News poll has identified the 15 percent of the electorate considered "moveable.’’ These voters are either undecided or say they may change their minds. They are mostly women, Catholics and white, and their issues are the economy, health care, Iraq, and terrorism, in that order. But some of those moveable voters are in states that don’t matter in terms of electoral votes. So the campaign is probably focusing on about eight percent of the voters. They are the "moveables" in the states where there is enough of a party split that each vote could make a difference.

--ML