More Poll Findings: The Economy Trumps the War, by Far

By Megan Thee
NYT blog

With the campaign now in full swing and a two-man race under way, voters say they worry most about the economy and far less about the war in Iraq, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.

In an environment where gas prices now top $4 a gallon, mortgage companies are failing, and the financial markets prove consistently shaky, more than half of those polled cited an economic issue as the most important problem facing the country. The war in Iraq fell into the background, with only 13 percent of those polled citing it as most important. Before the 2006 midterm elections when the Democrats won control of Congress, only 7 percent of Americans said the economy was of paramount concern to them.

Fifty-one percent of those polled said the Democratic party is more likely than the Republican party to ensure a strong economy, suggesting a liability for John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee.

Voters closely associate Mr. McCain with Mr. Bush. Six in 10 voters said they expect that if elected, Mr. McCain would generally continue his predecessor’s economic policies.

Still, neither candidate is seen as particularly likely to do much about the rising cost of gasoline. Only 30 percent of Americans expect Mr. Obama’s energy policies would be able to help bring down gas prices and only 25 percent expect Mr. McCain’s policies would.

(Continued here.)