Polls find economy a top concern

UNDATED (AP) — Exit polls indicate the economy has been on voters’ minds in Democratic primaries in Indiana and North Carolina.

Two-thirds of Democratic primary voters in Indiana and nearly as many in North Carolina who were surveyed said the economy is the most important issue facing the nation. That’s more than have said so in 28 previous competitive Democratic primaries with exit polls
this year.

Only about one in five in each state said Iraq was the top issue, and even fewer picked health care from a list of three issues.

Indiana’s Democratic primary is open to all voters. About one in five said they were independents and one in 10 identified themselves as Republican.

North Carolina’s Democratic primary was open only to voters registered Democratic or unaffiliated; nearly one in five voters in that contest called themselves independents.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)