(Courtesy of Jacob Kauffman, KUAR Public Radio.)
The AARP released poll results Monday showing Arkansans age 50 and older are experiencing a high level of anxiety about retirement issues, and in the race for the U.S. Senate, a slim margin of voters prefer Democratic incumbent Mark Pryor over Republican challenger Tom Cotton.
48 percent support Pryor while 43 percent support Cotton. The margin of error is 2.9 percent. 9 percent were undecided. The survey did not ask about Libertarian Nathan LaFrance or Green Mark Swaney.
Speaking on a conference call, AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said the poll of 1,200 likely Arkansas voters reveals through what it brands as an "anxiety index" that a high percentage of voters are unsatisfied with explanations on key issues and are worried about their future. LeaMond said the issue of in-home care has been overlooked. 74 percent of respondents found improving at-home-care to be important.
“Care giving may be a sleeper issue in this election. Across party lines people want to receive care in their homes rather than in more costly nursing homes and they want more support for care giving so that the elderly and people with disabilities can live independently. Many voters 50+ have been or are care givers or certainly expect to be care givers,” said LeaMond.
A Talk Business-Hendrix College poll released late last month showed Tom Cotton holding a slight lead over Mark Pryor with the 65 and up age group. Even though the AARP survey was released after the Talk Business-Hendrix College poll the Talk Business-Hendrix College results are from a more recent sampling. The AARP survey was conducted from June 24th to July 1st. The Talk Business-Hendrix College poll was conducted July 22nd-25th.
The AARP survey also shows 82 percent of respondents found improving Medicare to be an important issue. 85 percent identified strengthening Social Security, particularly keeping up with the cost of living, to be important.
Although the poll showed a slight edge for Pryor, which is even tighter when broken down from 50+ to the 65-75 range, the results also reveal an overwhelming majority think all candidates need to do a better job explaining their positions. Nancy LeaMond says 81 percent want a better explanation on Medicare and Social Security.
"50 plus (age) voters have had enough of political jargon and spin. They say the haven't heard enough about candidates plans for key issues like Social Security, Medicare, independent living, and financial security. The message from these voters we think is clear. In a razor tight election candidates have a major opportunity to reach key voters by speaking about their plans on these issues," said LeaMond.
