Poll: Jobs, corruption, deficit top issues

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PRINCETON, N.J., July 30 (UPI) -- Job creation, reducing corruption on the federal level and lowering the federal budget deficit were the top issues listed by U.S. voters in a new Gallup survey.

Americans listed the three as the most important of 12 issues the next president should address, the USA Today-Gallup survey released Monday indicated.

Job creation's No. 1 position on the list is consistent with several measures of issue relevance or importance Gallup has asked this year. Corruption in government typically ranks as important when asked about specifically, although it isn't as top-of-mind as jobs or the economy, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.

Besides jobs, corruption, and the deficit, Americans gave relatively high priority to addressing terrorism and other international threats, ensuring long-term stability of Social Security and Medicare, and improving public schools.

Supporters of President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney likely disagree on how best to address major issues facing the country, Gallup said, but both rate job creation and reducing government corruption among their top priorities for the next president.

Addressing environmental concerns and increasing taxes on wealthy Americans were the two issues ranked as the lowest priorities for Romney and Obama supporters.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,030 adults conducted July 19-22. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.