Findings released Monday by Gallup showed a sharp rise in the number of Americans who identify unemployment as the nation’s biggest problem. But what isn’t new is the relatively small percentage of the public that ranks the federal budget deficit and federal debt as a top priority.
Twenty-three percent said unemployment is the most important problem facing the country, up from 16 percent in January and 12 percent at the end of last year.
The deficit and debt, however, were rated as a low priority, as has been the case for quite some time.
Budgetary issues have long been the central focus of many Republican and centrist leaders, but Gallup showed that even GOP voters ranked four other issues as more important.
