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Iraq Still Tops Policy Agenda, but Immigration, Gas Prices Gain

Iraq Still Tops Policy Agenda, but Immigration, Gas Prices Gain

Percentage citing immigration is highest in a year

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- After several months of general stability in Americans' policy agenda for Washington, the public's desire to see the government address immigration and fuel prices grew considerably in May. The percentages naming each of these as one of the top priorities for the federal government to deal with are now at the highest levels seen in at least 10 months. Neither issue has distracted Americans from the situation in Iraq, however. Iraq remains by far the public's top-rated priority. Rather, Americans' intensified spotlight on immigration and fuel prices comes at the expense of concern about healthcare, the economy, and a variety of less prominent issues, where slight declines are seen.

Each month, Gallup updates Americans' policy "to-do" list for the federal government by asking, "In your view, what one or two issues should be the top priorities for the president and Congress to deal with at this time?" In the most recent Gallup Panel survey, conducted May 21-24, 2007, nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) say the situation in Iraq should be the primary focus, about the same as the 66% recorded last month and similar to the average percentage mentioning Iraq over the last eight months (70%).

The next most frequently named issue is immigration (24%), followed by fuel and energy prices (17%) and healthcare (16%). The economy rounds out the top five, mentioned by 10%.  No other issue is named by more than 4% of Americans.

In your view, what one or two issues should be the top priorities for the president and Congress to deal with at this time?  [Open-ended]

 

May 21-24,
2007

%

Situation in Iraq/War

69

Immigration/Illegal aliens

24

Fuel/Oil prices/Lack of energy sources/The energy crisis

17

Poor healthcare/hospitals; high cost of healthcare

16

Economy in general

10

Education/Poor education/Access to education

4

Terrorism

4

Environment/Pollution

3

National security

3

Federal budget deficit/Federal debt

3

Social Security

3

Unemployment/Jobs

2

Taxes

1

Poverty/Hunger/Homelessness

1

Lack of money

1

International issues/problems

1

Medicare

1

Foreign aid/Focus overseas

1

War/Conflict in the Middle East

1

Abortion

1

Issues mentioned by less than 0.5% are not shown.

The 24% citing immigration is the highest seen on this measure since a year ago when 23% named immigration. From July 2006 until April 2007, however, the percentage averaged only 12%, varying between 10% and 15%. 

At 17%, the percentage mentioning some aspect of energy prices is the highest in 10 months, though it is not the record high. That was recorded last May when 29% of Americans cited fuel prices as the top priority, then ranking the issue second behind Iraq.

The percentage citing some aspect of healthcare each month has varied from 9% to 27% over the past year, so the current 16% is about average for this issue.

Mentions of the economy have ratcheted down from a peak of 18% in October 2006 to 10% today. The current figure is the lowest seen for the economy in the 14-month span of this trend.

Differences by Party

Iraq ranks as the top issue for both Democrats and Republicans, although mentions of the situation in Iraq as the top priority for government are somewhat higher among Democrats than among Republicans (76% vs. 62%).

Immigration is significantly more likely to be mentioned by Republicans than by Democrats (35% vs. 14%), with independents falling in between (22%).

Conversely, healthcare is mentioned by twice as many Democrats as Republicans (16% vs. 8%). At 17%, independents are as likely as Democrats to name healthcare as a top priority for government.

The three political groups are highly similar in their mentions of fuel prices or the energy situation with 17% of Republicans, 19% of independents, and 15% of Democrats focusing on these as priorities. 

Survey Methods

Results for this panel study are based on telephone interviews with 1,007 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted May 21-24, 2007. Respondents were randomly drawn from Gallup's nationally representative household panel, which was originally recruited through random selection methods. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.


Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/27742/Iraq-Still-Tops-Policy-Agenda-Immigration-Gas-Prices-Gain.aspx
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