Voters give Republicans an edge over Democrats in how they handle five of the six most important issues, according to a Gallup poll.
{mosads}The poll finds that voters rate the economy, the availability of good jobs, the way the federal government is working, the situation with militants in Iraq and Syria, equal pay for women and the federal budget deficit as the most important issues facing the nation.
Voters rate Republicans higher on their handling of all of those issues, except equal pay for women.
The highest number, 88 percent, rated the economy as important, and on that front Republicans lead 50 to 39 percent over Democrats. That’s up from a five-point lead in April.
In what could be a troubling sign for Democrats heading into the midterm elections, this 11-point GOP lead on the economy is similar to the 12-point lead Republicans had in 2010, when they won back the House majority.
Republicans have emphasized the threat from ISIS militants in their midterm campaign message. This strategy could help them, as 78 percent of voters rate the situation with the militants in Iraq and Syria as important, and voters give Republicans a 19-point lead on their handling of the issue.
While immigration is not in the top six issues, it is rated as important by 65 percent of voters. In a sign of how the surge in unaccompanied children at the border could have changed the politics of the issue, voters now give Republicans the advantage, by 47 to 42 percent. By contrast, in April, before the border crisis drew attention, Democrats led, 49 to 42 percent.
Democrats’ bright spot in this poll is on equal pay for women. Democrats have been making an issue of a range of women’s rights, particularly access to contraception, in tight races.
Seventy-five percent of voters rate equal pay for women as important, and they give Democrats a massive 38-point lead on their handling of the issue.