Now I want you to think about the future. I'm going to read you a short list of issues. For each one, please tell me how concerned you are about that issue on a scale of zero to ten, in which ten means you are extremely concerned about the issue, five means you are somewhat concerned, and zero means you are not at all concerned. According to the national poll, clean air and water are in the top tier of issues that concern voters when thinking about the future. In every state polled, a strong majority of voters responded that clean air, clean water and open space were important factors in their voting decision.
Voters overwhelmingly support stricter enforcement of environmental laws or stronger laws.
Very few voters believe environmental laws should be weakened. Now let me read you four statements about the environment and please tell me which comes closest to your own view. On the national poll, voters overwhelmingly called for government to play a larger role in protecting the environment. In every state polled, at least 40 percent of voters called for stronger enforcement of existing laws. In no state in which research was conducted did more than 15 percent of voters believe environmental laws should be weakened.