According to the latest survey from Gallup, [4] this is the highest percentage of Americans to mention terrorism in a decade, although it is still lower than the 46% measured after 9/11.
Before 2001, terrorism barely registered as the most important problem facing the country.
[5]
So are the terrorists winning? Or the fearmongers?
The terrorist attacks in San Bernardino and Paris have altered how Americans view the problems facing the U.S. Satisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S. dropped significantly to a 13-month low in December, and Americans' trust in the government to protect them from terrorism is the lowest Gallup has measured. [6]
[7]
The data reviewed here show that terrorism has now become the single most-frequently mentioned issue when Americans are asked to name the most important problem.
[8]
Which makes President Obama's "victory" over Climate Change seem very odd... since it doesn't even register as a worry for Americans.