In '08, It's Really the Economy, Stupid

With gas prices stratospheric, the housing market tanking, and recession looking likely, voters aren't too worried about Iraq, reports the Wall Street Journal. Job concerns have transformed illegal immigration and health care into major issues. “You have to have a health plan even in the Republican primary,” says John McCain’s economic adviser. “That's a new development.”

In a recent poll, 52% cited health care and economic concerns as the most important issues in the race. That figures to help Democrats, traditionally strong in times of economic trouble. “The Republicans haven't shown anything yet to suggest they've got a clue about the direction we're going with the economy,” says one lifelong Republican. (More Election 2008 stories.)