SIOUX CITY, IA -
The words "never forget" have significant meaning on a day like today. But will the 9/11 attacks cause you to vote differently this November?
Although national security has been a top issue for the last decade, one political science professor at Briar Cliff University says it isn't at the top of the list for most voters.
This year, not one elected official, not even the President, was invited to attend the ceremony at Ground Zero. Briar Cliff political science professor David Wiltse says it's not surprising, given the recent controversy around the memorial itself.
"For the victims' families, this has been a very frustrating process from the very beginning," says Wiltse.
Politics were at the heart of the funding disagreement between the foundation that controls the Sept. 11th Memorial and Museum, and politicians in New York and New Jersey that was only recently resolved.
While the attacks may be fresh in the minds of Americans on this day, Wiltse says the concern over National Security was short lived.
"That eroded in about 4 years with the succession of September 11th, to the Afghanistan war, to the Iraq war, and by the time the 2006 election came around, national security was actually working against President Bush," he said. "And this time around, national security is probably just going to be off the radar scene."
To freshman at Briar Cliff, national security matters, but other issues take precedence.
"Unemployment, and just the outsourcing of jobs, I don't particularly care for that. I want America to be more self sufficient," says Cole Ackerman.
"Right now, I think that national security is a big deal but there are other things that are also a big deal," says Erica Lovan.
So what does the legacy of 9/11 mean to the presidential race?
According to a recent Washington Post poll, 40 percent of Americans feel safer from Terrorism since President Obama took office. Just 12 percent feel less safe.
"People see what the president has done, they might not agree with him on everything but they see that Osama bin Laden was killed, they see that we haven't had another major terrorist attack, and they can reward him for that to a certain extent," Wiltse says.
To reach reporter Heather Leigh, you can e-mail her at Hleigh@kmeg.com or find her on facebook at www.facebook.com/heatherleighkmeg
