A survey released Thursday by St. Norbert College shows Wisconsin residents view the economy as the most important issue in the upcoming presidential election.
Wendy Scattergood, assistant professor of political science at St. Norbert College, said the results are useful because few polls focus specifically on Wisconsin.
There aren't that many state-wide surveys that are done in Wisconsin, considering that we are considered a battleground state. I think that it really gives people an idea of what's going on,"" she said.
The poll said Wisconsin voters think U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is the candidate best equipped to deal with the current economic situation, while U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would best handle the Iraq War.
U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., would be the best candidate to manage U.S. health care issues, the survey said.
Voters also feel these are the three most important issues this year, according to the poll.
Charles Franklin, professor of political science at UW-Madison, said it is ""striking and awe inspiring"" the economy has quickly surpassed the Iraq War as the No. 1 issue on voters'.
""It certainly has set the stage for a fall election that is far more about domestic politics and far less involved with the war,"" he said.
John Cooper, UW-Madison M.E. Grodon Fox professor of American Institutions, said the decreased emphasis on Iraq is not surprising.
""The economy is in very bad shape. Unless we're in a really '¦ major war, terribly and immediately in a dangerous situation, the economy nearly almost always trumps foreign policy,"" he said.
According to the survey, Wisconsin residents would currently vote for Obama over McCain, but would vote for McCain over Clinton.
Franklin said most of the survey results are not surprising. He said Wisconsin parallels national trends and the survey is an indication the election in November will be extremely close.
A separate St. Norbert survey released Thursday said President George Bush has an approval rating of 31 percent in Wisconsin, the lowest it has been in seven years.
