MILPLEX
Wisconsin Voters View Missile Attacks As Real Threat: MDAA
 Milwaukee WI (SPX) Aug 18, 2004
 Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) President, Riki Ellison, is touring Wisconsin this week on the heels of a recently released poll indicating Wisconsin residents overwhelmingly support missile defense and view a missile attack as a viable threat to their community and economy.

The poll released Tuesday by Public Strategies shows that nearly four out of five, 79 percent, Wisconsin voters support the immediate deployment of a missile defense system, with 74 percent believing funds allocated to missile defense is money well spent.

"Wisconsin voters want a system deployed now. They support dedicating a small part of the defense budget to a system designed to protect lives, not take lives," said Ellison, who took his message to the Democratic National Convention and will do the same at the upcoming Republican National Convention in New York.

In 2004, less than 3 percent of the defense budget was allocated to missile defense.

The poll confirms what candidates have long known, that missile defense is a non-partisan issue with the vast majority of both Republicans and Democrats indicating a missile defense system is needed.

In fact, 74 percent feel so strongly about the issue they would vote for a candidate who supports funding and deploying a missile defense system.

Recent reports confirm North Korea's possession of at least eight nuclear weapons, as well as the rapid proliferation of scud missile technology capable of being deployed from ships located on any large body of water.

Americans expect to be protected from missile attacks, but greatly overestimate the country's missile defense capabilities. In fact, more than half (52 percent) of Wisconsin voters wrongly assume we already have the capability to protect ourselves from a missile attack.

"Homeland security is top of mind for candidates and voters this year," said Ellison.

"Our country has begun to dig the foundation, build the walls and lay the fence around the house that will keep Americans families and communities safe, but we can not protect ourselves without also putting a roof on our house. That is the role a strong missile defense system will play."

Out of 500 voters in Wisconsin, a battleground state targeted by both presidential campaigns:

  • 74 percent believe missile defense should be a focus of homeland security efforts and is a public safety issue;
  • 67 percent believe missile defense should be a national top priority;
  • 74 percent will support a presidential candidate who supports missile defense;
  • 77 percent would rather have a partial missile defense system in place than none at all;
  • 79 percent would feel safer with a system in place; and
  • 88 percent believe any missile attack on United States soil would have an adverse impact on Wisconsin's economy.

    Polling was conducted by Public Strategies, Inc., an independent non- partisan firm. The poll represents the views and opinions of 500 Wisconsin voters with a margin or error of plus or minus 4 percent.

    Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance