Why time and time again do they say Iraq and gas are the biggest issues in November?

Question

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060726005768&newsLang=en

tough as hell: this survey is from 1.4 million households, you can't compare it to 1000 households.

Answer 1

Well, whoever thinks that is a fool ... Iraq will be inherited by the next administration, and gas prices will go up and down ... but the immigration issue has to be solved once and for all, and solved pretty damn quickly!!

Answer 2

There are some people gullible enough to think that the gas prices can be controlled by a politician. Jimmy Carter tried that. It didn't work out so well. If they go after the oil industry they will run them out of the country, so we will have more unemployment, prices of gas will not change, since Demand is driving that, nothing else. So if you hear of a politician using that as a platform I would run like hell the other way. Iraq is going to end when it needs to end. Period. Any president that pulls them out too early is only cutting this nations throat.

Answer 3

The war is costing us an incredible sum of money. Gas prices will likely keep rising and with it go the costs of doing business which will be passed along to the consumer. People want leadership so that we can resolve the Iraq question and still feel safe from terrorism. November's winner's can either get us back on track or do something stupid that will make things worse.

Answer 4

Gas is expensive, we dont have the ways to produce it like we need to and at this point the changeover to ethanol needs to be expedited. As for the war in iraq there were many many tactical mistakes made there and if the region doesnt settle down before then it really doesnt matter who the republicans nominate because they wont win. Whether they like it or not, the people identify the republican party with George W. Bush even though there were many many republican presidents that the people loved. They dont pay attention to the history of how these parties ideologies have changed.

Answer 5

It is the economy stupid. Borrowed that from Bill Clinton the last legally elected president. Both of those things are intertwined in the economy and the middle class and the poor are really suffering from the decision to go to war and the subsequent consequences

Answer 6

Certainly the war in Iraq, if it is still going poorly, will effect the elections - and not in the Republicans favor. However, I think illegal immigration and the economy will be more a factor than the price of gasoline.

Answer 7

The Harris Poll. July 7-10, 2006. N=1,002 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"What do you think are the two most important issues for the government to address?" Open-ended

.

Top Responses
7/06 5/06
% %
The war 32 28
The economy (non-specific) 15 13
Immigration 13 16
Gas and oil prices 9 14
Health care (other than Medicare) 8 8
Iraq/Saddam Hussein 8 7
Education 8 5
Employment/Jobs 6 5
Terrorism 5 3

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FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. June 27-28, 2006. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"As of today, which one of the following issues will be the most important in deciding your vote for Congress this fall: [see below]?" Items rotated

.

%
The economy
19
Iraq
16
Terrorism
12
Immigration
11
Health care
10
Gas prices
7
Social Security
7
Ethics in Washington
6
Other (vol.)
8
Unsure
4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




ABC News/Washington Post Poll. June 22-25, 2006. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Fieldwork by TNS.

.

"What will be the single most important issue in your vote for Congress this year: the U.S. campaign against terrorism, the war in Iraq, the economy, immigration, gas prices, health care or something else?" Items rotated

.

%
Iraq
24
Economy
23
Health care
14
Immigration
13
Gas prices
9
Terrorism
8
Education (vol.)
1
All of them (vol.)
1
Something else
4
Unsure
2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. June 13-14, 2006. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Which one of the following issues do you think should be the top priority for Congress to work on this summer: [see below]?" Items rotated

.

%
Iraq
35
Gas prices
28
Immigration
26
Same-sex marriage
5
Flag burning
-
Other (vol.)
5
Unsure
1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CNN Poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation. May 16-17, 2006. N=1,022 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"How important will each of the following issues be to your vote for Congress this year? Will it be extremely important, very important, moderately important, or not that important? . . . "

.

Extremely
Important Very
Important Moderately
Important Not That
Important Unsure
% % % % %
Terrorism
5/16-17/06
39 40 15 4 2

.

The situation in Iraq

5/16-17/06
37 39 16 6 3
.

Gas prices

5/16-17/06
34 36 19 9 2
.

The economy

5/16-17/06
33 44 18 4 1
.

Corruption in government

5/16-17/06
27 39 22 8 4
.

Immigration

5/16-17/06
27 35 27 8 3
.

Government surveillance of U.S. citizens

5/16-17/06
21 33 28 14 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CBS News Poll. May 16-17, 2006. N=636 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.


"What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?" Open-ended

.


%
War in Iraq 28
Economy/Jobs 15
Immigration 12
Gas/Heating oil crisis 6
Terrorism (general) 5
Health care 4
Defense/Military 3
President Bush 3
Other 20
Unsure 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). April 21-24, 2006. N=1,005 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.


"Let me list some issues that have been proposed for the federal government to address. Please tell me which one of these items you think should be the top priority for the federal government. [See below.]" If "All": "Well, if you had to choose just one, which do you think should be the top priority?"

.


%
Energy and the cost of gas 19
The war in Iraq 19
Health care 14
Job creation and economic growth 11
Illegal immigration 11
Terrorism 11
Iran's nuclear program 6
Congressional ethics and lobbying reform 4
Other (vol.) 1
All equally (vol.) 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Gallup Poll. March 13-16, 2006. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.


"Next I'm going to read a list of problems facing the country. For each one, please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. How much do you personally worry about . . . ?"

.


Great
Deal Fair
Amount Only a
Little/
Not at All
% % %
"The availability and affordability of health care" 68 21 11
"The Social Security system" 51 29 20
"The availability and affordability of energy" 48 35 17
"Drug use" 48 25 27
"Crime and violence" 45 36 19
"The possibility of future terrorist attacks in the U.S." 45 31 24
"The economy" 43 37 19
"Hunger and homelessness" 43 34 23
"Illegal immigration" 43 29 28
"The quality of the environment" 40 37 23
"Unemployment" 31 34 35
"Race relations" 22 36 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Problems and Priorities


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Polls listed chronologically. Data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older.


.

.

The Harris Poll. July 7-10, 2006. N=1,002 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"What do you think are the two most important issues for the government to address?" Open-ended

.

Top Responses
7/06 5/06
% %
The war 32 28
The economy (non-specific) 15 13
Immigration 13 16
Gas and oil prices 9 14
Health care (other than Medicare) 8 8
Iraq/Saddam Hussein 8 7
Education 8 5
Employment/Jobs 6 5
Terrorism 5 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. June 27-28, 2006. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"As of today, which one of the following issues will be the most important in deciding your vote for Congress this fall: [see below]?" Items rotated

.

%
The economy
19
Iraq
16
Terrorism
12
Immigration
11
Health care
10
Gas prices
7
Social Security
7
Ethics in Washington
6
Other (vol.)
8
Unsure
4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




ABC News/Washington Post Poll. June 22-25, 2006. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Fieldwork by TNS.

.

"What will be the single most important issue in your vote for Congress this year: the U.S. campaign against terrorism, the war in Iraq, the economy, immigration, gas prices, health care or something else?" Items rotated

.

%
Iraq
24
Economy
23
Health care
14
Immigration
13
Gas prices
9
Terrorism
8
Education (vol.)
1
All of them (vol.)
1
Something else
4
Unsure
2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. June 13-14, 2006. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Which one of the following issues do you think should be the top priority for Congress to work on this summer: [see below]?" Items rotated

.

%
Iraq
35
Gas prices
28
Immigration
26
Same-sex marriage
5
Flag burning
-
Other (vol.)
5
Unsure
1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CNN Poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation. May 16-17, 2006. N=1,022 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"How important will each of the following issues be to your vote for Congress this year? Will it be extremely important, very important, moderately important, or not that important? . . . "

.

Extremely
Important Very
Important Moderately
Important Not That
Important Unsure
% % % % %
Terrorism
5/16-17/06
39 40 15 4 2

.

The situation in Iraq

5/16-17/06
37 39 16 6 3
.

Gas prices

5/16-17/06
34 36 19 9 2
.

The economy

5/16-17/06
33 44 18 4 1
.

Corruption in government

5/16-17/06
27 39 22 8 4
.

Immigration

5/16-17/06
27 35 27 8 3
.

Government surveillance of U.S. citizens

5/16-17/06
21 33 28 14 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CBS News Poll. May 16-17, 2006. N=636 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.


"What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?" Open-ended

.


%
War in Iraq 28
Economy/Jobs 15
Immigration 12
Gas/Heating oil crisis 6
Terrorism (general) 5
Health care 4
Defense/Military 3
President Bush 3
Other 20
Unsure 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). April 21-24, 2006. N=1,005 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.


"Let me list some issues that have been proposed for the federal government to address. Please tell me which one of these items you think should be the top priority for the federal government. [See below.]" If "All": "Well, if you had to choose just one, which do you think should be the top priority?"

.


%
Energy and the cost of gas 19
The war in Iraq 19
Health care 14
Job creation and economic growth 11
Illegal immigration 11
Terrorism 11
Iran's nuclear program 6
Congressional ethics and lobbying reform 4
Other (vol.) 1
All equally (vol.) 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Gallup Poll. March 13-16, 2006. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.


"Next I'm going to read a list of problems facing the country. For each one, please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. How much do you personally worry about . . . ?"

.


Great
Deal Fair
Amount Only a
Little/
Not at All
% % %
"The availability and affordability of health care" 68 21 11
"The Social Security system" 51 29 20
"The availability and affordability of energy" 48 35 17
"Drug use" 48 25 27
"Crime and violence" 45 36 19
"The possibility of future terrorist attacks in the U.S." 45 31 24
"The economy" 43 37 19
"Hunger and homelessness" 43 34 23
"Illegal immigration" 43 29 28
"The quality of the environment" 40 37 23
"Unemployment" 31 34 35
"Race relations" 22 36 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Pew Research Center survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Jan. 4-8, 2006. N=approx. 750 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"I'd like to ask you some questions about priorities for President Bush and Congress this year. As I read from a list, tell me if you think the item that I read should be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important or should it not be done. Should [see below] be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done?"

.

Top
Priority Lower
Priority Not Too
Important Should Not
Be Done Unsure
% % % % %
.

"Defending the country from future terrorist attacks"

1/4-8/06
80 18 1 - 1

.

"Improving the educational system"

1/4-8/06
67 26 4 2 1
.


"Strengthening the nation's economy"

1/4-8/06
66 26 5 1 2
.


"Improving the job situation"

1/4-8/06
65 28 4 1 2
.


"Taking steps to make the Social Security system financially sound"

1/4-8/06
64 28 4 2 2
.


"Taking steps to make the Medicare system financially sound"
1/4-8/06
62 30 4 2 2
.


"Reducing crime"

1/4-8/06
62 29 6 1 2
.


"Regulating health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and managed health care plans"

1/4-8/06
60 28 6 3 3
.


"Providing health insurance to the uninsured"
1/4-8/06
59 30 6 2 3
.


"Dealing with the nation's energy problem"
1/4-8/06
58 33 6 1 2
.


"Protecting the environment"

1/4-8/06
57 35 6 1 1
.


"Dealing with the problems of poor and needy people"

1/4-8/06
55 36 6 1 2
.


"Reducing the budget deficit"

1/4-8/06
55 35 5 1 4
.


"Reducing federal income taxes for the middle class"
1/4-8/06
51 32 8 5 4
.


"Making it tougher for illegal immigrants to enter the U.S."

1/4-8/06
51 26 14 6 3
.


"Increasing the minimum wage"

1/4-8/06
47 34 10 6 3
.


"Dealing with the moral breakdown in the country"

1/4-8/06
47 26 14 9 4
.


"Strengthening the U.S. military"
1/4-8/06
42 36 13 6 3
.


"Changing the federal income tax system to make it simpler"

1/4-8/06
40 35 16 6 3
.


"Dealing with global trade issues"

1/4-8/06
30 46 11 5 8
.


"Making recent tax cuts on investment income permanent"

1/4-8/06
22 36 17 15 10
.


"Making it easier for immigrants to legally work in the U.S. for a limited period of time"

1/4-8/06
17 32 21 27 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer 8

OK, I should read the link BEFORE I answer not afterwards.

I don't know. I guess different things are more important to different people and it depends on who you poll and how the questions are asked.

The November poll is the one that will count.

Answer 9

Probably because we are still at war with Iraq and gas prices are currently at an all time high.

Answer 10

check out the papers and news sources on a daily basis and see what is constantly showing up in the headlines.

It is not big unemployment, personal issues (i.e. abortion or right to die) or the greater than normal complaints about washington.