'Swing State' Americans More Concerned About Health Than Financials Amid Coronavirus, Says Poll

A poll released Tuesday showed that a high number of American voters in six key swing states are more concerned about their health than they are their personal finances.

The CNBC/Change Research polled 2,448 registered likely voters in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and found that 82% were more worried about their family’s health and safety than their family’s financial situation, compared to 18%.

To start, respondents were asked about their current financial and work situation. It found 30% of respondents had already lost wages, 27% were working fewer hours, and 11% outright lost their jobs. Over 70% of the latter two categories said they could financially support themselves for around two months, while less around 40% said they could for around one month.

The poll was filled out and compiled two days before the Labor Department’s March job report was released showing massively rising unemployment.

The April poll showed a stark contrast to a poll conducted in March.

• 84% of respondents were concerned about their personal health or the health of their family/relatives versus 51% in March’s poll
• 81% were worried about a possible economic recession compared to March’s 57%
• 65% were worried about lost wages while 35% said they were worried in March
• 39% were afraid of losing their job, up from March’s result of 16%
• 65% said they didn’t think the economy was in good shape versus 35% who thought the U.S. economy was in good shape

The April poll also asked respondents how they felt about the government's response to the crisis. Views on President Trump’s handling of the pandemic were split, with 51% disapproving and 49% approving. Respondents were much harder on Congress, as 64% disapproved compared to 36% who approved.

Respondents said they were happy with the $2.2 trillion relief package, or CARES Act, that was passed on March 27. The poll found that 84% approved of the bill and most of the package’s relief efforts for workers and smaller businesses.

But respondents were mostly opposed to the aid provided to larger corporations. The poll showed that 41% of voters believed corporations and Wall Street would benefit the most from the package and 54% outright opposed the $500 billion set aside to aid corporations.

Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are considered crucial for the presidential race. President Trump carried all six states in his narrow victory in 2016.