aarp colorado 50+ voters · republicans in the senate on things that will harm colorado families...
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Colorado 50+ Voters
January 2018https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00202.001
2
Methodology
AARP took a bipartisan approach to this research, using two firms,
BSG and GSSG to conduct and advise on all phases of research
design and execution.
800 telephone interviews were conducted from November 18-22,
2017 with registered voters ages 50+ in Colorado.
At the 95% confidence level, the margin of error for the entire sample
is ± 3.5%
Due to rounding, some percentages may not add up to 100%.
West: 20%Denver/Boulder: 23%
Arapahoe/Jefferson: 20%South/East: 36%
For more information, contact S. Kathi Brown of AARP Research at [email protected] from the Media should be directed to AARP’s Media Relations Department at [email protected].
3
Demographic Profile Of Colorado 50+ Voters
35 33 3252
4870 orolder
between60 and 69
between50 and 59 Female
Male
Race
22% high school or less
Gender
82%
10%
2%
3%
White
Hispanic
African-American
Native American
Age
31% some collegeor technical school
46% college grad or higher
Education
AARP
42% are AARP members
CSR
Party ID
Household Income
27% Democrat 45% Independent 28% Republican
36%
30%
23%
<$50k
$50-100k
$100k+
54% Yes 46% No
33%
32%
33%
City
Suburb
Rural
Veteran (self or family)
Political Landscape
5
50+ Voters’ Views Of Senator Gardner Largely Fall Along Partisan LinesFavorability of Senator Gardner by subgroup
QCO1: Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable view of Senator Cory Gardner?
36
21
29
55
38
34
32
40
23
18
34
18
19
26
25
20
41
61
37
27
43
40
42
40
Overall
Dem
Ind
Rep
Men
Women
50-64
65+
39
23
36
36
34
28
36
42
21
30
29
16
24
23
20
24
40
47
35
48
42
49
43
34
White
Non-white
<College
College+
Denver/ Boulder
Arapahoe/ JeffCo
West
South/ East
Favorable Unsure/Don’t know Unfavorable
6
Plurality Are Concerned Gardner Sides Too Often With Conservatives; Independence A StrongDriver Of FavorabilityWhich comes closest to your opinion?
Q12: Which of the following comes closest to your opinion?
15
4
11
28
28
20
26
37
34
59
36
11
Overall
Dem
Ind
Rep
Senator Cory Gardner has been anindependent senator, working on
both sides of the aisle to fight for thebest interest of Colorado families
Senator Cory Gardner has sided toooften with conservative
Republicans in the Senate on thingsthat will harm Colorado families
Senator Cory Gardner hascompromised too often with liberalDemocrats in the Senate on thingsthat will harm Colorado families
Don’t know
39-50 fav/unfavto Gardner 69-13 fav/unfav 14-75 fav/unfav
7
10-76fav/unfav
15-74fav/unfav
14-74fav/unfav
Republicans Better-Relate To Senator Gardner; Though He Leads On Caring For 50+ Voters,Ratings Drop Across All Parties On Views On Social Security, And MedicareHow well does this describe Sen. Gardner? (% total well)
Q5,6,8: How well does this describe Senator Gardner?
40
35
32
28
23
19
38
31
28
51
49
47
Cares about people like you
Understands the challenges facing older Americans
Represents your views on Social Security andMedicare
Overall Democrat Independent Republican Among those who say thisdescribes Gardner…
72-11fav/unfav
66-17fav/unfav
68-17fav/unfav
Well Not well
Mindset Of Colorado 50+ Voters
9
The Majority See Economy On The Rise, With The State’s Economy Outpacing The Rest Of TheCountry As A Whole…Is US/Colorado economy getting stronger or weaker?
Q15,Q16: In general would you say [the U.S./Colorado’s] economy is getting much stronger, getting somewhat stronger, staying the same,
getting somewhat weaker or getting much weaker?
57
68
23
20
19
12
US economy
Colorado'seconomy
Getting stronger Staying same/Don't know Getting weaker
10
…But These Gains Aren’t Felt On A Personal Level; Nearly Half Feel Stagnant, With Many MoreStruggling Than Getting AheadWhich describes your personal financial situation today?
Q17: Which of the following comes closest to describing your personal financial situation today? Getting ahead, staying where you are,
struggling to keep up, or falling backward?
21 20 1526 26
156
17
39
21 17 19 25
49 4951
4740 59
43
57
46
5051 49
47
22 24 2519
2420
37
2112
2322 23
22
7 7 6 7 9 512
5 3 5 10 7 6
Overall Dem Ind Rep 50-64 65+ <$40k $40-75k $75k+ Denver/Boulder
Arapahoe/JeffCo
West South/ East
Getting ahead Staying the same Struggling to keep up Falling backward
11
On An Open-Ended Basis, Health Care Cost Worries Are Most Top-Of-Mind For 50+ Voters
Q14: Please briefly describe the biggest fear you have facing you and your family today. Open end question; multiple responses accepted
19
8
8
7
7
6
6
Health care costs
Social Security/Medicare not being available
Financial hardship
Economy/jobs not available
Donald Trump being president
Taxes/tax bill
Nuclear war/North Korea
What is the biggest fear you have facing you and your family today?
Open end (showing answers >5%)
12
Political Divide Ranks As #1 Worry For Coloradans, But Rising Prices And Terrorism Aren’t FarBehind On List Of ConcernsHow often do you worry about…?
Q22-Q27: Do you worry about this very often, somewhat often, from time to time or almost never?
56
34
30
29
23
17
80
61
61
52
36
34
How divided America and Americans have become
Pricies rising faster than your income
Threat of terrorism in our country today
Not being able to afford the health care you need
Having to take care of an aging parent or family member
Not being able to retire when you want to, for financial reasons
Very often Somewhat often Total often
#1 forDem/Ind/Rep
#2 for Reps
#2 forDem and Ind
13
Just Two-Thirds Of Voters Are Confident In Their Retirement Future, And Very Few ExpressStrong ConfidenceHow confident are you that you will have enough money to live comfortably through your retirement?
Q18: Overall how confident are you that you will have enough money to live comfortably throughout your retirement years?
23 23 1926
1829 23 22
1322
32
66 65 6469
60
7367 64
51
7175
Overall Dem Ind Rep 50-64 65+ White Non-white <$40k $40-75k $75k+
Very Confident Somewhat Confident Total Confident
Colorado Issues
15
Voters Across Partisan Lines See Health Care Costs As Colorado’s Greatest Issue Today
Q13: In your opinion, what is the single most important issue facing Colorado today? Open end question; multiple responses accepted
20
11 9 8 8 7 7
24
11
48
5 5
11
21
12
6 58 8 8
1511
1511 9 10
3
Health care/costof health care
Growth/sprawl Marijuanalegalization
Taxes/tax bill Drugs/heroinepidemic
Economy/jobs Environment/climate change
Overall Democrat Independent Republican
What is the single most important issue facing Colorado today?
Open end (showing answers >5%)
16
Though A Lesser Concern Than Health Care Generally, Addressing Opioid Epidemic SeesStrong Support; Despite Sprawl Concerns, Voters 50+ Wary Of New Tax To Address The IssueDo you support or oppose this proposal?
QCO4-5,CO7: Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose this proposal?
41
32
27
75
65
55
Providing additional services and addiction treatmentfor those who suffer from opioid addiction
Expanding access to internet and technology inColorado
Paying an additional tax in order to improve andcreate new transportation infrastructure in Colorado
Strongly support Somewhat support Total support
Majority of allparties support
17
Senator Gardner’s Ratings On His Efforts On Opioids Are Low
Q7: Is doing a good job fighting the opioid crisis. How well does this describe Senator Gardner?
27
20
24
35
33
43
33
25
Overall
Dem
Ind
Rep
Well Don't know Not Well
58-24 fav/unfav to Gardner 20-64 fav/unfav to Gardner
How well does this describe Senator Gardner?
“Is doing a good job fighting the opioid crisis”
18
On Senator Gardner’s Top Priorities, Voters Aligned On CHIP But Not On Delaying Insurers’ TaxIf you knew Sen. Gardner was prioritizing this issue would you be more or less favorable to him?
QCO8-9: If you knew Sen. Gardner was prioritizing this issue, would that make you much more favorable, somewhat more favorable somewhat less favorable,
or much less favorable to him?
35
51
37
19
31
33
37
73
85
78
59
75
71
75
Overall
Dem
Ind
Rep
Very fav
Smwt Fav
Unfav
Much more favorable Somewhat more favorable Total more favorable
16
11
16
20
31
17
11
38
31
36
46
65
46
29
Overall
Dem
Ind
Rep
Very fav
Swmt fav
Unfav
Stabilizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program,
Or CHIP, to provide health care for children by extending
federal taxpayer funding for another 5 years
Delaying the Health Insurance Tax imposed on
health insurers by the Affordable Care Act
Sen.
Gardner
Fav
Sen.
Gardner
Fav
Senior Issues
20Q30: Which of the following worries you more?
47
54
56
51
37
45
50
32
26
25
28
41
38
26
Overall
AARP Members
Dem
Ind
Rep
50-64
65+
Congress will make changes to SocialSecurity that will harm seniors
Congress won't make changes to SocialSecurity and the program will go bankrupt
HEALTH CARESOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Older Coloradans Are Largely Distrusting Of Congress When It Comes To Social SecurityWhich concerns you more?
27-50 fav/unfav to Gardner 48-30 fav/unfav to Gardner
21
…And The Same Holds True For Medicare, To An Even Greater Degree, Particularly AmongRepublicansWhich concerns you more?
Q31: Which of the following worries you more?
55
56
60
55
51
57
52
28
27
26
25
33
31
24
Overall
AARP Members
Dem
Ind
Rep
50-64
65+
Congress will make changes to Medicare thatwould hurt seniors and near-retirees
Congress won't make any changes to Medicareand future retirees and our kids will pay the price
HEALTH CARESOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
32-48 fav/unfav to Gardner 45-30 fav/unfav to Gardner
22
On Reforms, Expansion To Dental Sees Strong Support, While Premium Support Is A Non-StarterDo you support or oppose…?
Q32: Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose this proposal, which is sometimes called 'premium support’? QCO5:Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose this proposal?
25
21
13
25
37
67
74
83
68
53
Overall
AARPMembers
Dem
Ind
Rep
Support Don't know Oppose
“Premium Support”Medicare would no longer pay for health care services directly butinstead would provide each senior with a set amount of money to
help purchase an insurance plan in the private marketplace.
Expanding Medicare to pay for dental care services
HEALTH CARESOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Strongly Oppose
78
83
93
79
66
18
12
4
17
31
Overall
AARPMembers
Dem
Ind
Rep
Strongly Support
52
57
68
55
35
52
62
71
51
37
23
Majority Of Supporters Favorable Toward Medicaid – Even Republicans, But Support LacksIntensityFavorability toward Medicaid program
Q33: Thinking about the Medicaid program generally, would you say you have a very favorable view of Medicaid, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable,
or very unfavorable view of Medicaid?
2234 26
922 23
67
81
70
51
67 66
Overall Dem Ind Rep 50-64 65+
Very favorable Somewhat favorable Total favorable
HEALTH CARESOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
24
This Leaves Many In Opposition To A Block Grant System For The ProgramWhich approach to Medicaid would you prefer?
Q34: Which approach to Medicaid would you prefer?
The current approach where states determine who qualifies forMedicaid and what services are covered within federal guidelines,
and the states and federal government split the costs
Change Medicaid so the federal government gives each state aset amount of money, known as a block grant, and the state
decides how much state funding to give the program, who getscoverage and what services are covered
62
75
59
53
26
14
27
36
Overall
Dem
Ind
Rep
HEALTH CARESOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
25
Compromise Is Not A Dirty Word: Voters Support Bipartisan Agreement To Lower Health CarePremiums At More Than 2:1 Ratio
Q29: Based on what you know today, do you support or oppose the bipartisan health care agreement made by Senators Alexander and Murray that provides
government funding to lower premiums for middle class Americans?
51 55 5543
21 16 1927
Overall Dem Ind Rep
Support Don't know Oppose
Based on what you know today, do you support or oppose the bipartisan health care agreement made bySenators Alexander and Murray that provides government funding to lower premiums for middle class Americans?
HEALTH CARESOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
40-42fav/unfavto Gardner
35-40fav/unfavto Gardner
26
Insurance and Drug Companies Seen As Top Reason For Rising Health Care Costs;Republicans Blame ACAWhat is most responsible for rising health care costs?
Q28: What do you think is most responsible for rising health care costs in this country? You may select up to two things.
48
48
26
20
16
13
Health care insurance companies being too focused on profitsand not peoples' health
Drug companies charging too much for medications andtreatment
The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare
Doctors, hospitals, and other providers ordering unnecessarytreatments and over-testing
An aging U.S. population
Medical malpractice lawsuits
HEALTH CARESOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
#1 for Dems, Inds
#1 for Reps
#2 for Dems, Inds, Reps
27
Older Coloradans Are Largely Dissatisfied With Prescription Drug Monopoly; PharmaceuticalCompanies And Their Pricing Tactics Are Largely To BlameWhich comes closest to your own opinion?
Q41: Which of the following comes closest to your own opinion?
Prices for prescription drugs aredetermined on a free, open marketthat is subject to the laws of supply
and demand
Prices for prescription drugs are theresult of a pharmaceutical
corporation monopoly that controlsthe prices
27 22 2334
6667
7359
Overall Dem Ind Rep
HEALTH CARESOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
28
To Address This, Older Voters Strongly Support An Array Of Reforms; Even 3-In-5 RepublicansSupport Capping Drug Company ProfitsDo you support or oppose this proposal? (% strongly support)
Q35-40: Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose this proposal?
82
78
74
71
64
54
94
92
84
80
72
72
Allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices
Allow lower cost generic drugs to come to the prescription drug marketfaster
Ensure transparency in drug pricing
Close loopholes that allow pharmaceutical companies to keep priceshigh
Close loopholes that allow drug companies to prevent consumers fromaccessing lower priced generic drugs
Limit the profits that drug companies can make on medications
Strongly support Somewhat support Total support
HEALTH CARESOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Dem Ind Rep
96 94 93
90 90 94
83 84 86
77 81 80
70 77 70
80 79 59
Total support among...
Constituent Outreach
30
Most Communication With Constituents Is Received Via Mail; And While This Method Is LargelyPreferred, A Significant Number Would Also Like More Town HallsWhich ways have you received info from Sen. Gardner? Which would you most prefer?
Q10: In which of the following ways have you received news or information from Senator Cory Gardner? Multiple responses accepted Q11: And in which of the
following ways would you most like to receive news or information from Senator Cory Gardner? Multiple responses accepted
21
19
9
7
6
4
31
37
20
3
19
10
2
13
Mail sent to your home
Updates posted on Facebook or other socialmedia
Television
Events or town halls the senator holds in yourcommunity
Updates posted to the senator's website
Newspaper
None of the above
Currently receive Would prefer
50-69: 33%70+: 47%
31
Local And National TV News Dominate Sources Of Information; Family, Friends AndOrganizations More Important For Voters 50+ Than Social Media
Q42: Which of the following sources do you rely on to obtain news and information about political issues and government? Please tell me all that apply.
Multiple responses accepted. Q43: Which of the following do you do at least a few times a week? Please tell me all that apply. Multiple responses accepted.
61
61
52
43
37
23
18
5
Local television news
Cable television news
Newspapers and magazines
Radio
Your family and friends
The organizations you belong to
58
56
48
46
45
30
5
Watch political news on cabletelevision channels
Watch political news on localtelevision channels
Read political news in print
Read political news online
Listen to political news on the radio
Log on to Facebook
Read Twitter
Which do you rely for news/info on
political issues and government?
Which do you do at least a few
times a week?