Gallup poll: Economy tops foreign affairs as top 2016 issue

The state of the economy trumps foreign affairs as the top issue for voters in the 2016 presidential election, according to a Gallup poll released Friday.

Nearly 90 percent of people named the economy as being extremely or very important in determining their vote next year.

About three-quarters of the public, meanwhile, is concerned about terrorism and 61 percent about foreign affairs in general.

The number of respondents concerned about terrorism has dropped from 86 percent in 2004, just after the invasion of Iraq.

{mosads}Nearly 90 percent of each political group — Republicans, Democrats and independents — told Gallup the economy will be important to their vote at the polls.

Nearly 80 percent of Republicans named foreign affairs as an important issue, compared to nearly 60 percent of Democrats. Republicans also rated immigration and the way government operates higher than Democrats or independents did.

Gallup found that 77 percent of the public rated the way Washington operates as an extremely or very important election issue. The same percentage named healthcare policy.

A little less than three-quarters of people said they are concerned about wealth distribution. Nearly 60 percent said they are concerned about immigration, and 55 percent said they are concerned about race relations.

The poll surveyed 1,016 adults between May 6-7 with a 4-percentage-point margin of error.