Terror, war top voter issues in survey

For the first time since the Vietnam War era, voters consider terrorism, war and foreign policy the most pressing issues facing the country, and they do so by a large margin, a development with strong implications for the presidential election. Forty-one percent of eligible voters believe national security and foreign policy are most important, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Council on Foreign Relations and the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. In contrast, 26 percent said the economy was the most important concern and 26 percent cited other domestic issues. The result, which reflects the opinions of about 2,000 voters questioned in early July and another 1,500 earlier this month, suggests that concerns over Iraq and terrorism could play a significant role in the choices voters make in the Nov. 2 election.

About OODA Analyst