Want to restore people’s confidence in their leaders? Give them something to believe in.

A poll out this afternoon from CNN shows that 57 percent of the country think that the Bush presidency has been a failure. Democrats in Congress don’t fare much better, with 55 percent calling their work a failure as well. The CNN Polling Director put it pretty plainly — “The public clearly doesn’t like what it sees coming out of Washington these days.”

What could our elected leaders do to restore our faith in their work?

If you take a look at our ONE Poll from New Hampshire, one answer that cuts across party lines is taking on the fight against extreme global poverty and disease. Ok, now some will say, of course ONE is saying that buying into its mission is a good thing for any president or member of Congress. That’s like someone in Austin saying that he roots for the Longhorns. But take a look at the polling data.

Our ONE Poll in New Hampshire found that 93 percent of Democrats and 84 percent of Republicans agree – yes, agree! — that the United States has a moral obligation to work to fight treatable, preventable disease, particularly those that children predominantly suffer from. Democrats (86%) and Republicans (67%) agree that presidential candidates must incorporate their plans to address global hunger and poverty issues in their foreign policy platforms.

The rest of the ONE Poll shows the same. Let’s have leaders who make a priority of those issues that bring us together as a country. ONE has pointed the way. It’s time for our candidates to jump on board.

-Tom Gavin, ONE Communications Director