The economy, including Wall Street's current troubles, overtook the war in Iraq as Americans' top concern, six weeks ahead of the US presidential election.
Fifty-four per cent of Americans said the US economy was one of the two top issues the new government arising from the November 4 election will have to tackle when it takes office in January, a Harris Interactive poll showed yesterday.
Harris said it was the first time in more than 10 years that more than 50 per cent of Americans shared the same opinion on a particular issue. The survey consulted 1,015 adults from September 17 to 21.
Just one month ago, in August, the US economy was a top concern for 43 per cent of Americans, up from a scant 13 per cent a year ago.
Other key concerns on US voters' minds, the Harris poll found, included health care (21 per cent), the Iraq War (17 per cent) and fuel prices (11 per cent).
The poll also noted that it was the first time in four years that less than 20 per cent of Americans cited the Iraq war as a major concern.
Worry over spiralling fuel prices also slid with falling prices at the pump, in June 20 per cent of Americans were worried over fuel prices.
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And US President George W Bush's popularity stood at just 24 per cent, equal to his lowest-ever ratings reached in April.
Most Americans (77 per cent against 17 per cent) believe their country is heading in the wrong direction and 81 per cent disapprove of their congressional representatives' performance, with Republicans and Democrats faring equally badly (74 and 75 per cent respectively).