Health Care Sneaking Up on the Economy

Remember when gas was four bucks a gallon and gas prices were the top issue for voters? That was so five minutes ago. Now a new poll shows that yes, it's the economy, stupid. But guess what's leaped back into second place? Health care.

The survey of 1,500 likely voters was conducted between Oct. 5-9 by Lake Research Partners and Voter/Consumer Research (a Democratic and Republican firm, respectively) on behalf of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. It found a whopping 64 percent of those responding said the economy would be their top issue as they went to the polls next month. But in second place, at 21 percent, was health care. Education, terrorism/national security, and Social Security/retirement tied for third at 16 percent each. The situation in Iraq trailed at 13 percent, and oh yes, gas prices were named by 11 percent, just ahead of the national debt and moral values, named by 7 percent each.

When asked what concerned them most on a personal level, health care actually ranked first among respondents, ahead of the rising costs of gas and food, jobs, and retirement savings. And in a finding likely to make John McCain even more unhappy than he already is, 64 percent of respondents said they favor providing "quality, affordable health care for all Americans, even if it means a major role for the federal government."

-- Julie Rovner

5:50 PM ET | 10-15-2008 | permalink

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