March 3, 2008

The American Dream reflects the hopes and aspirations of America's working families. It is a universal expression of our core values as Americans.

For the overwhelming majority of American voters the centerpiece of the dream is a job that can support a family, along with affordable health care and a secure retirement. Working families want their children and grandchildren to have the opportunity for a better future.

But the dream is at risk.

Most Americans think the dream is getting harder and harder to obtain, and they believe that the policies of the Bush administration have only made it worse.

While there is growing economic anxiety, there is also a remarkable rise in enthusiasm for the '08 presidential election. Working people in increasing numbers believe they can have an impact on the election. And they believe the president that they elect can have a positive impact in helping America's families obtain the American Dream.

In our last American Dream survey, we asked -- in an opened ended question -- which president candidate had the best vision for restoring the American Dream. Senator Hillary scored highest with Barack Obama coming in second. No Republican candidate at the time got out of the single digits.

Our current survey shows Barack Obama as the American Dream candidate. Senator Obama was named by 31 percent of the respondents while Hillary Clinton received 18 percent -- down from 30 percent last November. The presumptive Republican nominee John McCain received 22 percent.

Americans believe that irresponsible corporate conduct -- from shipping jobs overseas to breaking promises to workers on health care and pensions -- is the primary threat to the American Dream.

In the latest installment of our American Dream survey series, voters saw Senator Obama as being least influenced by big corporations and CEOs. In head-to-head rankings, 39 percent of voters saw John McCain as being influenced by big corporations while the percentage naming Obama was only 19 percent.

Most importantly, Barack Obama has instilled a new enthusiasm in the political process. In a time of economic anxiety, we see hope rather than despair. Americans believe that they can restore the American Dream.

As in our past surveys, our recent survey confirms that for Americans the dream is realized or lost at work. Low paying jobs with no benefits and no opportunity are robbing Americans of the dream for a better future for their children. For working America, this election is about the jobs of the future. It's about whether the new global economy will produce jobs in the U.S. that can support the dream for the next generation of workers.

We in Change to Win believe that we can transform the jobs of the new economy into the good jobs of the future. We need a President in the White House who shares our vision and will support an agenda to make that dream a reality. We believe Barack Obama will be that President.

This web page is paid for by the Change to Win Committee for the American Dream and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.