Political Insiders Poll

How much will foreign policy dominate the 2016 presidential race?

Justin Hughes from Atlanta holds a sign during a WWE Survivor Series performance at Philips Arena on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 in Atlanta. Reports surfaced several days ago that the terrorist group ISIS had planned a terrorist attack at the show, as well as in several other U.S. cities. "Everyone needs to get out and show these cowards that they are not going to change our daily lives," he said. Members of the Atlanta Police APEX unit stand guard in the foreground. (AP Photo/Kevin D. Liles) (Atlanta Protective Enforcement and Interdiction)

Q: With ISIS dominating the news, how significant will foreign policy be in the presidential race?

DEMOCRATS (81 VOTES)

The No. 1 issue: 7%
Very significant: 66%
Somewhat significant: 27%
Not significant: 0%

The No. 1 issue

“By mid-summer, the country will be focused on selecting a protector in chief.”

Very significant

“You can’t get away from it when there are major events like Paris.”

“It’s almost never No. 1, unless we’re attacked in a big way.”

“This will be a forever issue during the election.”

“Paris will not be top of mind in a year, but terrorism and foreign policy will be a significant concern for voters.”

“It’s serious business, and serious candidates benefit.”

“Assuming the pace of attacks outside the Middle East continues, this will clearly be very significant. But, barring a calamity of epic proportion, the economy will remain at the top of the list.”

Somewhat significant

“It’s a month-to-month phenomenon. Remember when we had the Ebola scare?”

“If there’s (God forbid) an attack on U.S. soil, this launches to the top spot. But absent that, foreign policy will take its usual back seat to domestic.”

Q: With ISIS dominating the news, how significant will foreign policy be in the presidential race?

REPUBLICANS (79 VOTES)

The No. 1 issue: 10%
Very significant: 81%
Somewhat significant: 9%
Not significant: 0%

The No. 1 issue

“Bad news for [Sens. Ted] Cruz and [Rand] Paul.”

Very significant

“Right up there with the economy for all voters and above it for Republicans.”

“A year is a long time, but if Americans are this scared next fall—watch out.”

“Bad news for Democrats—ISIS is their problem, happened on their watch, just as bin Laden was unfinished business left over from W.”

“Very significant in the GOP primary. Not so much in the general. HRC will have to avoid the topic in view of the failure of her five years as secretary.”

Somewhat significant

“Depends what happens between now and next November. If nothing else happens, it will fade as an issue.”

“America has the attention span of a gnat. This issue will dissipate until some other terrorist attack happens.”

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