America's Voice: By the Numbers
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's time now to check America's pulse with our Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport. Good morning -- Frank. He's live in Princeton, New Jersey. How much does the public support free trade around the world?</s>FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, it's quite interesting. This is a very complex question. Bush will be in Pittsburgh today, the symbolic center of the steel industry in the United States, and we all are awaiting his decision on the tariffs. But it's complicated. We ask Americans that very kind of basic question about trade: Is it an opportunity for the U.S.? Because obviously there are cheaper goods and also Americans can make things which are sold overseas. But also is it a threat? For the same reason we heard Representative Gephardt say we'll lose jobs. Americans are mixed: 49 percent, however, say it's an opportunity. So, Carol, I'd have to say on that there is a slight tendency for Americans to like the idea of trade, but it's a very complex issue, obviously.</s>COSTELLO: I want to talk a little bit about World AIDS Day. It was yesterday. How do Americans feel about AIDS? Have they grown complacent?</s>NEWPORT: Well, you know, we had just recently asked: What is the most urgent health problem facing the country? We've been asking that for many years at Gallup, and AIDS indeed is way down the list. I guess AIDS activists would say the country is complacent. Two-thirds of Americans said AIDS was the No. 1 health problem facing the country back in the '80s. Now? All the way down to just 8 percent. Carol, it's access and cost, those kinds of things, that are now the health problems Americans mentioned, not a specific disease at all -- not even cancer, as you can see.</s>COSTELLO: All right, Frank Newport reporting live from Princeton, New Jersey, for us this morning with some fascinating numbers, as usual. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.