Poll: Candidates should stress economy

NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. voters are focused on economic issues but say neither U.S. Sens. Barack Obama nor John McCain is paying enough attention, a new poll indicates.

Respondents to a New York Times/CBS poll voice a feeling that neither candidate has made it clear what he would do as president in the areas of deteriorating economy, high energy prices, access to healthcare and national security, the Times reported.

The indications favor a hope the candidates will make plans for those issues clear in their upcoming national conventions.

Those surveyed further indicated they felt the race is neck-and-neck with either man capable of winning.

Nearly half of those surveyed said that they expect McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive GOP nominee, to continue the Bush administration's policies if elected president. But, voters, by a wide margin, view McCain as better prepared to be president than Obama, the apparent Democratic nominee.

Four in 10 voters called the economy their top concern while 15 percent cited the Iraq war.

Sixty-five percent of those surveyed thought Obama, D-Ill., would make the right decisions on the economy, compared with 54 percent for McCain. On foreign policy, however, the edge went to McCain, 66 to 55 percent.

The nationwide telephone poll was conducted Aug. 15-19 with 1,012 adults, including 869 registered voters. It had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.