More Americans Say Iraq Is the Nation's Most Important Problem

November 16, 2006
Only 31% of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going

by Joseph Carroll

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- The situation in Iraq continues to be the top issue mentioned by Americans when asked to name the most important problem facing the country right now. More than a third of Americans name Iraq as the top problem, and is now, by one point, at the highest level seen on this measure since the focus on Iraq began four years ago. Other problems facing the nation as mentioned by Americans include the general state of the economy, healthcare, government dissatisfaction and corruption, immigration, and terrorism. Americans' overall satisfaction with the state of the nation remains quite low, with only 31% of Americans saying they are satisfied.

Most Important Problem

The Nov. 9-12, 2006 poll asked Americans to name, in their own words, the "most important problem facing this country today," repeating a long-standing Gallup trend question updated monthly. The war in Iraq ranks at the top of the list, with 36% of Americans mentioning this as the nation's most salient problem. The situation in Iraq has been at the top of the list each month since March 2004, at which time the economy and unemployment were greater public concerns. But, the percentage of Americans mentioning Iraq as the most important problem is up this month from 28% in early October -- and is now among the highest levels Gallup has ever measured.

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http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=25462