Citizens Suggest Education as Top Issue for the Presidential Debates; Other Issues Prioritized in Online Questionnaire Include Seniors, the Military, Healthcare, and Taxes.Business Editors WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2000 -- Almost 80% Find Debates Useful in Deciding For Whom to Vote -- The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD CPD citrate phosphate dextrose; see anticoagulant citrate phosphate dextrose solution, under solution. Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) ), the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. that sponsors the debates, and Harris Interactive Harris Interactive (NASDAQ: HPOL) is an American market research company that specializes in public opinion research using both telephone and surveys on online panels. The company is the product of a 1996 merger between the Gordon S. Black Company and Louis Harris & Associates. , an Internet-based market research firm, today released the top ten issues citizens responding to an online questionnaire said they wanted addressed during the upcoming presidential debates. Almost 32,000 Americans took the questionnaire, launched six weeks ago on the CPD's web site, www.debates.org. The questionnaire outlined the following issues as those most important to be discussed during the upcoming debates: - Education (36%) - Prescription drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, benefits for senior citizens (31%) - Military defense spending (31%) - Social Security (30%) - Healthcare for children (28%) - Taxes (27%) - Patients' Bill of Rights (27%) - Federal government spending Government spending or government expenditure consists of government purchases, which can be financed by seigniorage, taxes, or government borrowing. It is considered to be one of the major components of gross domestic product. (22%) - Environment (22%) - Abortion (21%) Debates Reported Useful The vast majority of respondents (79%) reported debates useful in deciding for whom to vote, and most (72%) plan to watch the televised events this year. About half (51%) report following the presidential race closely so far. When asked what they looked for in a president, the top response was someone who cares about the same issues they do (42%), followed by someone who provides strong leadership for the nation (20%). More Participation To Come - Online and By Phone The pre-debate questionnaire is a key aspect of an Internet project begun over a year ago by the CPD to engage citizens in the election. New surveys - in Spanish and English - will go online after each debate to collect citizen reactions. Voters can assess the educational value of the debates, indicate whether they learned anything new, and voice ideas for upcoming debates. Other voter education tools available on www.debates.org include: online discussions of current issues; an online debate history; curricula and classroom activities for teachers; election information resources (1) The data and information assets of an organization, department or unit. See data administration. (2) Another name for the Information Systems (IS) or Information Technology (IT) department. See IT. ; and guidelines for participating in DebateWatch (a project getting people together in communities to watch and discuss the debates). In addition, citizens without Internet access See how to access the Internet. can now suggest topics for upcoming debates by calling TellMe at 1-800-555-TELL and saying "Election." The service is underwritten by Tellme Networks Tellme Networks is a company founded in 1999 by Mike McCue, based out of Mountain View, California that specializes in telephone-based applications. Tellme Networks was acquired by Microsoft on March 14, 2007 for "close to $800M".[1] The deal closed in late April. , Inc. of Mountain View, CA. "Innovative technologies are allowing people to engage in the election in new ways, sparking a renewed interest in the democratic process," said Janet Brown, executive director of the CPD. "We are thrilled to enable more citizen participation." "This online questionnaire clearly indicates that people across the country think favorably about debates and want to shape this year's presidential election," said Gordon Black, chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Harris Interactive. "We reached our goal of gathering people's opinions from every state. Now we're anticipating even greater participation in the post-debate questionnaires as more Americans take part in determining their own futures." About the Questionnaire and Respondents Participation was evenly divided among women and men (49% and 51%), and among various political parties (37% democrat, 31% republican, 32% third party or independent). The highest level of participation by age was among 18 to 24-year-olds (30%), a group often characterized as uninterested in politics. The pre-debate questionnaire did not include the views of a nationally representative cross-section of voters, such as would have been contacted by means of probability sampling. Rather, it included the views of interested people who elected to offer their opinions of their own accord. The opinions expressed here, therefore, may not represent the views of the voting public as a whole. The questionnaire was developed, tabulated and analyzed by Harris Interactive. Debate Schedule: All debates begin at 9 p.m. Eastern Time and last 90 minutes. - Tuesday, October 3, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, presidential debate - Thursday, October 5, Centre College, Danville, KY, vice presidential debate - Tuesday, October 11, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, presidential debate - Tuesday, October 17, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, presidential debate About Commission on Presidential Debates The nonpartisan, nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates was established in 1987 to ensure that debates are a permanent part of every general election. Its primary purpose is to sponsor and produce debates for the leading United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. presidential and vice presidential candidates and to undertake research and education activities relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc the debates. The CPD sponsored all the debates in 1988, 1992, and 1996. About Harris Interactive Harris Interactive (Nasdaq: HPOL), the global leader in market research, uses Internet-based and traditional methodologies to provide its clients with information about the views, experiences, behaviors and attitudes of people worldwide. Known for its Harris Poll, Harris Interactive has over 40 years experience in providing its clients with market research and polling services including custom, multi-client and service bureau research, as well as customer relationship management services. Through its US and Global Network offices, Harris Interactive conducts research in over 80 different countries in more than 30 different languages. Harris Interactive uses its proprietary technology to survey its database of more than 7 million online panelists. For more information about Harris Interactive, please visit our Web site at http://www.harrisinteractive.com. EOE EOE See: European Options Exchange M/F/D/V CPD Technical and Internet Advisory Board Kathleen Earley, President of AT&T Data and Internet Services Gordon S. Black, Harris Interactive Chairman and CEO Eric Benhamou, 3Com Chairman and CEO John Whittaker Dr John Whittaker (born June 7, 1945 in Oldham, Lancashire) is a Member of the European Parliament for the North West England region, for the United Kingdom Independence Party. , Zone of Trust President Dominic Orr, Alteon Websystems Alteon WebSystems Inc. NASDAQ: ATON, formerly known as Alteon Networks, "The Server Switching Company", was an Internet infrastructure company based in San Jose, California. Alteon was founded in 1996 by Mark Bryers, John Hayes, Ted Schroeder and Wayne Hathaway. President and CEO Eli Shapria, Chief Executive Officer, WebTrends Corporation Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. Statement This media release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking information. We caution you that these forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Additional detailed information concerning a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ is readily available in the "Risk Factors" section of Harris Interactive's Prospectus, dated December 6, 1999 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933. |
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