Economy Top Of Mind For Voters

Sept. 11–The struggling national economy is the issue weighing the most on the minds of New Mexico voters.

Asked about the biggest issue facing the nation, 82 percent of likely voters surveyed throughout New Mexico in the Journal Poll last week cited either the economy, lack of good jobs or both.

The third- and fourthranking most frequently cited issues were the budget deficit/national debt, cited by 11 percent, and health care reform, cited by 9 percent.

Voters were asked: "What do you think is the biggest issue facing the country as a whole?" The open-ended question, asked in connection with surveys on voter support for candidates in the presidential election and U.S. Senate and House races, allowed voters to list as many as three issues as top concerns.

Journal pollster Brian Sanderoff said the data are clear that economic issues are weighing on voters' minds.

"The top three (issues) all dealt with money. The top two, more specifically with the economy and jobs," Sanderoff said. "When people are hurting economically, that always rises to the top.

"Politicians are talking about it (the economy) because they think this is the hot-button issue with the voters, and that probably will be the issue ultimately that will make or break Obama," Sanderoff said, referring to President Barack Obama and this year's presidential election.

The economic issues split about evenly between the political parties, with 52 percent of Democrats, 53 percent of Republicans and 47 percent of independents — or declineto-state under New Mexico registration terms — listing a weak economy as the biggest issue.

"It is truly the issue voters are concerned about," Sanderoff said.

The national debt, however, was a big issue particularly among Republicans. Twenty percent of Republicans surveyed mentioned the national debt as the nation's biggest concern. By comparison, 5 percent of Democrats and 9 percent of independents listed the debt as a top issue.

The fact that health care reform was among the top four most frequently mentioned issues among New Mexico voters — with 9 percent citing it as a top concern — is likely caused by the political rhetoric surrounding that issue because much of the 2010 Affordable Care Act has yet to take effect, Sanderoff said.

"This is an issue that the candidates are talking about," Sanderoff said. "Health care reform has become a major campaign issue."

Issues cited less frequently in the Journal Poll included a weak education system, division among political parties, high taxes and incompetent political leadership.

The Journal Poll was conducted Sept. 3-6 by Research & Polling Inc. The poll is based on land line and cellphone interviews with 402 l ikely voters statew ide. Respondents could cite more than one issue and percentages reflect how many voters in the sample cited each one. Percentages do not add to 100 percent because respondents could cite more than one issue.

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