It’s the economy …

Healthcare is still No. 1 on the list of important issues for Americans, but more of us are beginning to mention the economy, according to a new Harris poll.

When asked to say, without being prompted or shown a list, what “are the two most important issues for government to address,” more people (45%) mention healthcare than any other issue. However, many more people, in total, mention either the economy (32%) or employment or jobs (31%), according to Harris.

Harris conducted an online survey of 2,576 adults between Jan. 18-25 to gather the survey results.

“While there is evidence in other polls of ‘health reform fatigue,’ almost half of all adults still think health care is a major priority that the government should address,” noted a Harris statement.

OTHER SURVEY FINDINGS
• The only other issues to be mentioned as most important by more than five percentage points are government spending or the budget (7%), and terrorism (6%). Five percent each mention immigration and education.

• The public remains overwhelmingly critical of Congress (84% negative).

• Many more people give negative than positive ratings to both the Democrats in Congress (by 54% to 17%) and the Republicans in Congress (by 50% to 16%). Until a few months ago more people were critical of the Republicans than the Democrats.

• Majorities are not familiar with either Defense Secretary Robert Gates (53%) or Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (57%) and substantial numbers are not familiar with Vice-President Joe Biden (33%), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (32%). And, in spite of her many years of high profile visibility, a remarkable 18% are not familiar with Hillary Clinton.