Economy's Top Issue, Voters Don't Like Bailout

Ninety-three percent of American voters say the economy is no good, and the majority of them -- 56 percent -- disapprove of the bailout fix that both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain supported as markets tanked in September.

Exit polls from around the country, which indicate a closer than expected presidential race between Obama and McCain in a number of battleground states, place the nation's economic troubles at the top of the list of concerns voters took with them to the polls.

Sixty-two percent of Americans said they were most worried about the downturn on Wall Street and Main Street.

Ten percent said their No. 1 issue was the war in Iraq.

The war of terror and health care each were pegged as most important by 9 percent.

Lines were long at polling places across the country -- in both traditionally Democrat and Republican areas -- suggesting that results would be slow coming on a night when not just the United States but the world is waiting to see just how much change Americans are ready to embrace.

One thing is certain, however, they want to change the nation's economic direction.

Another thing is likely: If one of the candidates had opposed the bailout, it might have been a decisive move.

Comments (5)

1. Nobody in Washington gives a damn.

   They (Obama and McCain) voted for the bailout.

   The sad thing is, more bailouts are on the way. The polls can say what they want, Washington loves bailouts.

   The big three are next in line.

   Posted by bleedingheart at 11/04/2008 @ 6:39pm

2. I just saw that CNN reported 6% of people polled thought the economy was fine! What?! That's crazy talk. Good post. I just did a quick and dirty search to find a great summary of the economy and how it's affecting voters decisions. This is great!

   http://tinyurl.com/6hwuyd

   Posted by Sweetness at 11/04/2008 @ 6:41pm

3. To the People of the United States of America: FELLOW CITIZENS, the importance of this Presidential election undeniably surpasses all others in recent memory. We are at war, uncertainty is threatening our way of life, and the politicos are continuously failing us. So let us ask ourselves, who can we literally afford to trust in office? Americans are being swayed, divided, and weakened by two political parties through the use of Styrofoam backgrounds, vague slogans, and properly placed emotional gestures. But history has taught us that political rhetoric flourishes in many forms during troubled times, so do not be easily fooled by the patriotic images and shows that any politician is participating in. Still, some are saying that we should entrust the 72 year old warrior-statesman because he will righteously put "Country First". Indeed McCain, who was born on an American Naval Air Station, has had many honorable life experiences similar to those of characters we remember today via marble works of art and Plutarchic biographies. But on the other side of the deliberation stands the swarms of people who sincerely believe that the eloquent Ivy-leaguer can bring a much needed change to the political culture in Washington. The novus homo, Barack Obama, continues to inspire the masses with a sense of hope not present since the time of JFK. The Republicans and Democrats have put forth their best men: let US choose between them. But why should one of these highly regarded men (who is going to win the vote of tens of millions of tax-paying Americans) just simply be eliminated and declared loser along with those who voted for him? Does America not need all the competent leadership she has nurtured to attend her needs as Americans and not partisans? Why can't both these even-tempe

   Posted by studentoflife at 11/04/2008 @ 8:44pm

4. To the People of the United States of America: FELLOW CITIZENS, we are at war, uncertainty is threatening our way of life, and the politicos are continuously failing us. So let us ask ourselves, who can we literally afford to trust in office? Americans are being swayed, divided, and weakened by two political parties through the use of Styrofoam backgrounds, vague slogans, and properly placed emotional gestures. Republicans and Democrats have become like an independent head of a two-headed dragon that hurts itself while trying to dictate its direction. We the People must tame this dragon by showing it that two heads are better than one. PUBLIUS

   Posted by studentoflife at 11/04/2008 @ 8:47pm

5. YOOO HOOO,

   Nothing like a wolf at the door to bring normal conservatives out of their fairy tale world (ie. we can cut taxes, increase spending, borrow the money, give rich investors everything they want and then we'll all be rich too. Then we can kill all those people in other lands who hate us because they're jealous ) Of course as far as the megawacked delusional wing nuts go...they'll be taking handouts from the government to keep them alive while still complianing about socialists.

   Posted by uwakeup at 11/04/2008 @ 11:08pm