FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NATIONAL SECURITY, IRAQ, AND THE ECONOMY ARE TOP CAMPAIGN ISSUES FOR 2004, ACCORDING TO NATIONAL SURVEY OF PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS
Political Science Department At Loyola Marymount University In Los Angeles Asks Top Presidential Experts 'What Will The Central Issues Be For The New Presidential Term?'

July 23, 2004 -- Los Angeles - Michael Moore's Palme d'Or-winning film "Fahrenheit 911" may resonate with movie-goers, but it's not likely that criticisms leveled at President George W. Bush's character will have much influence come election time, according to a new survey of top presidential scholars recently conducted by political scientists at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Although presidential character is often the number one issue in re-election campaigns, top presidential scholars from around the nation say they see U.S. national security, policy in Iraq, and the U.S. economy as the top three issues that will dominate the campaign season. Topping out the leading five issues identified by scholars for the 2004 election are tax policy and gasoline prices.

The findings are based on the results of the Loyola Marymount University survey of presidential politics and leadership scholars from top U.S. and off-shore universities and think tanks. For the survey, more than 400 scholars were asked to rate the importance to the national debate of 30 campaign issues ranging from abortion and healthcare, to the federal deficit and tax policy. The nearly 100 scholars who participated in the survey identified the following as the top ten issues in the presidential race:

1. National Security and Terrorism
2. Foreign Policy - Iraq Occupation by U.S.
3. Economy and Jobs
4. Taxes and Tax Policy
5. Gas/Oil Prices
6. Healthcare
7. Character of George W. Bush
8. Foreign Policy - General
9. Character of John Kerry
10. Protecting Social Security

The campaign issues ranked by scholars as the least important to the presidential race were:

20. Negative Campaign Advertising
21. Racial Equality and Access
22. Corporate Ethics and Governance
23. Crime
24. Scientific Research, Cloning, Stem Cells
25. Affirmative Action
26. Campaign Finance
27. Gun Control
28. Global Warming
29. Poverty
30. Helping Developing Countries

"It's clear that the economy is the paramount issue in this election," said presidential scholar Michael Genovese, who serves as LMU's professor of Political Science and chair of Leadership Studies. With the continuing war in Iraq and terrorism and security questions on the minds of voters, several new dimensions are introduced that should make for an unusual and perhaps redefining election."

Added Genovese, "Challenging a president in wartime is difficult. But with the steady decline of President Bush's popularity, and growing concerns over war and terrorism, a door has opened for Kerry. This makes the upcoming convention, and Senator Kerry's acceptance speech of key importance. For many voters, it will be the first time they really will test and judge him to see if he appears 'presidential.' It's up to Kerry to seize the opportunity."

Said Matthew Streb, assistant professor of political science at LMU, "It is not surprising that national security, Iraq, and the economy are considered to be the three most important issues in the upcoming election. The other issues will really be on the periphery. They will have little impact on the outcome of the election. More than any recent presidential election I can remember, this election is really about fewer, although extremely important, issues."

The full results of the survey may be found at: http://presidency04.lmu.edu/.

About Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles
Founded in 1911, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles is the eighth largest of the nation's 28 Jesuit colleges and universities and the largest Catholic university in Southern California. With a strong base in the liberal arts, LMU consists of the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, the College of Business Administration, the College of Communication and Fine Arts, the College of Science and Engineering, the School of Education, the School of Film and Television, the Graduate Division, LMU Extension, and Loyola Law School. For more information, please visit the LMU website at http://www.lmu.edu. Loyola Marymount is an equal-opportunity/affirmative-action institution.

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