New Bipartisan Poll Finds Hunger is a Powerful Political Issue: Anti-hunger Programs Have Strong Support

America's Second Harvest
Thursday, 5 June 2003

With summer vacation starting in communities across the country, school cafeterias will be closing their doors – and the 15 million at-risk children and their parents who depend on federally subsidized school lunches will scramble to make alternative arrangements to replace those meals.

With hunger on the rise and children at risk, a new nationwide study underwritten by Sodexho USA finds that American voters want real solutions from political leaders. The study conducted by a bi-partisan group of political strategists found that seven out of ten voters support public-private partnerships to help feed children who do not receive food programs during the summer months.

75 percent said they would approve of expanding the school breakfast program, making it similar to the National School Lunch Program. 68 percent of voters say they would approve of creating a new summer food program similar to the National School Lunch Program.

Important Concern

Ninety-four percent of respondents think that it is important during these times of budget cuts and a tough economy for government to fund anti-hunger programs. Reducing hunger and poverty in the U.S. was described as the most important issue by many voters, easily outdistancing important domestic concerns like the environment and, at 7.7 percent ranking about as high as health care. Reducing world hunger alone was a surprisingly important issue, rivaling concern about moral decline as a topic. A very high 55 percent of voters said the US spends too little to reduce hunger in this country.

In the midst of budget belt-tightening and economic slowdowns, voters did not want legislators to cut anti-hunger programs. An astounding 94 percent said explicitly -- despite budget cuts and tough times -- it was important to keep funding programs like school lunch and WIC. The reason for concern is direct and immediate to a surprising degree. Nearly 24 percent of voters said they were personally worried that they or someone in their family could go hungry and not have enough to eat in the future. More than 43 percent of voters said there were people in their own community who go hungry.

Voters want candidates to work on the issue – 64 percent said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who cuts substantially from food stamps, and 65 percent would be more likely to vote for a candidate who makes hunger a priority.

Powerful Issue for Both Parties

Republicans and Democrats were represented in relatively equal proportions in the survey. Although Democrats had a slight edge over George Bush and the Republicans (35 % to 29%) when asked who would be better able to reduce the hunger problem, the issue remains a good opportunity for candidates of either party.

"These poll results strengthen our resolve. We must draw a line in the sand to end child hunger," says Robert Forney, Chairman, Alliance to End Hunger. "Today, we all raise our voices to say that we will not accept this tragedy. We want to inspire our nation into action."

The Alliance to End Hunger survey was conducted by Tom Freedman, Bill Knapp and Jim McLaughlin. Jim McLaughlin is a leading Republican pollster who works extensively with House Republicans including the NRCC. Bill Knapp and Tom Freedman work with leading Democrats and worked against Mr. McLaughlin in the 1996 Presidential campaign. Mr. Knapp has served in senior roles in a variety of campaigns including the 1996 presidential race and as a director of advertising for the 2000 Gore/Lieberman campaign team.

In commenting on the report, Jim McLaughlin who does polling for Republicans nationwide, recognizes the importance of the hunger issue. As he puts it, "The issue of hunger can make the difference between being labeled a compassionate conservative and a Republican extremist."

Tom Freedman, a former Senior Advisor to President Clinton, says hunger resonates with Democrats too. "The poll shows beyond doubt that hunger is a very compelling issue for Democrats running for office in 2004."

Mr. Knapp said the data "offers a clear advantage for candidates who are prepared to lead on the hunger issue. Voters want to hear about comprehensive solutions to hunger that include church, community and business groups in partnership with government at all levels."

The poll was commissioned by the Alliance to End Hunger, which includes religious bodies, businesses, universities, civil rights groups and labor unions and others. Support for the poll was provided by Alliance member Sodexho USA.

For more information, or to contact America's Second Harvest, see their website at: www.secondharvest.org

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