Surveys: Economy top concern

bkrueger — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:09:01 -0400

The economy and jobs are the top concerns of likely voters in both the Democratic and Republican primaries in North Carolina on May 6, according to the latest surveys by Public Policy Polling.

But Democratic and Republican concerns were dramatically different on other issues.

When PPP asked likely Democratic primary voters which of seven issues were "most important to you," the overwhelming top choices were the economy and jobs (48 percent) and the war in Iraq (25 percent).

Next were health care (7 percent) and education (7 percent), and then moral or family values (5 percent), immigration (3 percent) and taxes (3 percent).

When the same questions were asked of likely Republican primary voters, the top concerns were the economy and jobs (30 percent) and moral or family values (20 percent).

Next were the war in Iraq (16 percent), taxes (13 percent) and immigration (12 percent). Trailing the pack were education (4 percent) and health care (3 percent).

More numbers in gov poll

bkrueger — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:48:50 -0400

Republican voters who are concerned about education, the economy, taxes and immigration favor Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.

Those who are concerned about moral or family values and health care favor state Sen. Fred Smith of Clayton.

Those are among the findings in the latest survey by Public Policy Polling in the Republican primary for governor. PPP surveyed 744 likely Republican primary voters on March 29-30. McCrory was the choice of 35 percent, followed by Smith at 23 percent. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.