Economy tops agenda of US presidential candidates

Analysts said that if economy fails to improve, Iraq war would be way down among the concerns of the voters when they go to polls in November to select a successor to President George W Bush, who is now facing dismal approval ratings.     

As presumptive Democratic candidate Barack Obama and his Republican rival John McCain prepared to launch their campaigns, the economy presented more bad news with some economists predicting that worst might come.     
Dow Jones industrial tumbled almost 400 points yesterday as several economists blamed rising oil prices on speculators.

With dollar weakening, the speculators are investing in oil which shoots up the prices and they make profit by selling at higher prices, they say.     

But the rising gas prices at pumps could force the two candidates to detail how they plan to deal with the situation.

Currently, both are expressing concern which, analysts and pollsters say, is not likely to impress the voters.