US Election 2012: Economy Listed As Top Issue Facing The US This Election

A new report by Gallup revealed that the economy is the top priority among Americans with 37 percent listing it as the most important problem facing the problem in October. According to the report, the issue of the economy overtook the issue of unemployment, which came in second with 26 percent.

Last month, America ranked unemployment as the top priority with 32 percent and the economy in second with 29 percent. According to Gallup, this shift may be a reflection in the decline in unemployment from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent recording in September.

The Gallup report found that the economy became the top priority among Democrats, Republicans and independents in October. Republicans experienced the highest jump from September to October, from 30 percent to 44 percent. On the other hand, Democrats experienced a seven point jump from 26 percent in September to 33 percent in October and independents experienced a five point jump from 32 percent in September to 37 percent in October.

Other issues that ranked in the top issues facing the country were: the federal budget deficit (12 percent), dissatisfaction with government (9 percent), healthcare (7 percent) and "lack of money" (5 percent).

Compared to the last election, Gallup found that the economy has become a lesser concern among Americans. In 2008, more than 50 percent of Americans listed the economy as their top priority compared to today's 37 percent. Conversely, unemployment is a much bigger concern than it was four years ago, with 12 percent recorded in October 2008 compared to 26 percent in October 2012.

Combining all the economic concerns listed by Americans and comparing them to those listed in 2008, Gallup found that "the percentage of net economic mentions is actually slightly higher today: 72 percent vs. 69 percent."

According to the report, some issues mentioned in the last three presidential elections have lost significance in this upcoming election. Among those issues are the war in Iraq, which was a major issue in 2004 and 2008; healthcare, which was a major issue in 2000 and 2004; and education, which was a major issue in the 2000 election.  

The issues of the economy and unemployment rank as the top issues affecting the nation by men and women, the Gallup report found. According to Gallup, men find the federal budget deficit to be the next major issue, while women find healthcare to be the next big issue.

A USA Today/Gallup poll last week revealed that women in 12 key swing states listed abortion as the "most important problem facing the nation." However, only one percent of women and less than one percent of men nationally list it as an important concern, Gallup said.

The economy is about as important to Americans now as it was during the 2008 presidential election. However, voters this time have an incumbent president (with a presidential record on the economy to consider) to choose from among the candidates. How this issue will affect the election is yet to be seen.

Both candidates will have one last time to appeal to voters on a national scale on Monday night during the final presidential election. President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney will meet at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. to discuss foreign policy tonight at 9 p.m. ET. The final debate will be moderated by Bob Schieffer.