The Politics Of National Security, Vol. 3: Making the Case on National Security as Elections Approach

A new Democracy Corps-Third Way survey shows opportunities for progressives to deliver an effective message on national security during this campaign season, even in the face of a negative political environment and new signs the Republicans plan to attack Democratic candidates on national security. President Obama and his Administration continue to receive relatively positive ratings on their national security performance, and the public remains supportive of the Administration’s strategy in the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There remain real obstacles, however, to making an effective case on these issues. Persistent concerns about the economy continue to undermine the public’s confidence about America’s standing in the world, and Democrats’ efforts to bolster it. And as the electoral environment tilts more Republican, the public’s confidence in Democrats, as a party, on national security is showing signs of erosion.

This new survey, the third in a series of jointly conducted, in-depth analyses of national security attitudes by Democracy Corps and Third Way, finds that Democrats should welcome a debate on national security and not shy from it. The strongest Democratic messages tested consistently beat the strongest Republican messages.

To read this memo, download the PDF.