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NEW YORK — As global conflicts continue to ignite, a startling new survey reveals that 80% of Americans are worried about the possibility of World War III. The study, conducted by Talker Research, paints a sobering picture of a nation on edge as international tensions rise and an uncertain election year looms.
The survey, which polled 1,000 Americans across party lines, found that concern about a potential global conflict transcends political affiliations. Republicans and third-party voters expressed the highest levels of anxiety, with 84% and 83%, respectively, fearing an impending world war. While slightly lower, Democratic concern remains significant, with 74% sharing similar worries.
Women expressed markedly higher levels of concern than men. A striking 85% of women feared the outbreak of a new global conflict, compared to 71% of men.
The specter of war feels particularly close to home for many Americans, with ongoing conflicts driving much of the concern. The Israel-Hamas conflict emerged as the primary worry for 55% of respondents, overshadowing ongoing concerns about the Russia-Ukraine war, which troubled only 28% of those surveyed.
Will the Fear of War Decide the 2024 Election?
In the event such a global crisis does break out, Americans appear divided on who they want to lead them through the crisis. When asked who would be a better leader during a world war, 50% of respondents chose Donald Trump over Kamala Harris, who garnered 41% support. Notably, 14% of third-party members expressed a lack of confidence in either candidate’s ability to handle an all-out global conflict.
The survey also explored hypothetical scenarios involving potential presidential successors. In a close race, 44% of respondents believed JD Vance would make a better replacement, while 43% favored Tim Walz. Breaking the results down by region, 52% of Southeastern Americans backed Vance, while 56% of Westerners put their faith in Walz. The gender divide persisted here as well, with women showing a slight preference for Walz over Vance (45% vs 40%).
As international tensions continue to simmer and domestic politics remain volatile, this survey underscores the palpable anxiety gripping the American public. With 80% of citizens concerned about the possibility of World War III, it’s clear that the specter of global conflict looms large in the American consciousness, shaping both personal fears and political preferences in these uncertain times.
Survey methodology
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 Americans who watched the vice presidential debate on Tuesday, October 1, split evenly by political party (400 Democrats, 400 Republicans and 200 Independent/Libertarian/Green Party members); the survey was administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, 2024.
BS. I don’t know how the survey question was structured, but I call BS that 80% think WIII is imminent. Get real. What a crock of nonsense.
So 80% fear WWIII is very possible now, but do they understand that it is the US that is provoking it, that it is the US that believes it has the right to destroy the World if and when it decides to take the ultimate risk? Well do they understand?
I went thru the cold war for decades, which is why we chose to be child free in the late 60’s. No regrets, just look at the problems today between countries. Russia threatens us, why are we interfering w/ Ukraine anyway? we need to butt out of foreign countries fighting/affairs.
My dad was a career army officer from the 60s into the 80s. He was pretty apolitical but in his later years, i remember a conversation he had with my son (school project). It was the first time I heard my dad say, “…we should hang up our sheriff’s star and focus on things here at home…”. Thank you Laura for a good post.
Butt out is the right thing to do!
My personal opinion is why they blaming Biden when it started with multiple democrats ruining are country why blame one guy when it has to do with multiple people we need a lot more stronger dictator that knows how to control the Middle East so there isn’t an provocations of ww3 and the Middle East needs to have better dictators not ones that are crazy it all comes down to power and religion in my eyes that’s causing hate and lotta chaotic violence in are fucked up world everyone should believe in one god not multiple gods we are all humans none of us are different at all we all bleed red shit brown pee yellow like what difference is there honestly to change something now it’s pretty too late very sad to say but world war 3 is here and we need to hold onto what we got stick to are love ones stop worrying about something we can’t really change something that’ll take years to change
Bruh, that is one hell of a run-on sentence and worded terribly. No one will take you seriously when writing something this poorly fyi…
80% plus percent believe this? We have a democrat administration not a Republican one.
I don’t think polls are accurate. There is no reason for Americans to think WWIII is around the corner. Nothing that would indicate this has actually happen (despite the rhetoric). It’s doubtful most people even understand what would have to happen first – but it’s a logistics problem – and that hasn’t happened (at all).
Not worrying is the wrong approach to armaggeddon!