As yet, the general public do not on the whole share this concern: 'Influential Americans' are nearly twice as likely to be concerned about foreign affairs as the general population. The latter's number one concern is the rising cost of healthcare, with 43% saying they are 'personally concerned'.

Annie Weber, Director of Roper's Washington, DC office, says Americans typically do not show a great deal of concern about international affairs. 'This new data for Influential Americans suggest that could change, as this segment tends to drive word-of-mouth and future trends'. MD Brad Fay suggests this may be one reason why senators are thinking carefully about the pending nomination of a US ambassador to the United Nations: 'Influential Americans are exactly the people who Senators and Congressmen hear from first'.

Concerns about healthcare costs have risen steadily among the general public but peaked last year among the 'Influentials'. Terrorism still ranks as third on the list for both groups, despite a fall in concern from a high of 61% for the general public and 45% for Influential Americans in 2003. Concerns about the breakdown of the family are also increasing among both Influential Americans and the general public, rising from 30% in 2004 to 36% in 2005 for the Influential Americans, and 25% in 2004 to 29% in 2005 for the general public. Weber suggests the cyclical rise and fall of the last of these during presidential terms may relate to the strong focus placed on 'family values' by candidates - 'Influential Americans follow campaigns and political news very closely'.

Concerns:	Influential Americans	General Population
Our Foreign Relations	52%	27%
Rising Cost of Healthcare	43%	43%
Terrorism	37%	41%
Breakdown of Family	36%	29%
Way Courts are Run	30%	21%
Quality of Public School Education	29%	24%
Getting into Another War	28%	20%
Recession/Rising Unemployment	26%	19%
Way Young People Act	24%	27%
Wrongdoing by Elected Govt. Officials	23%	23%