While the economy and unemployment are generally considered the top issues in the presidential elections the results of a Gallup poll published today ranked healthcare costs above even those.

Healthcare is viewed by 84 percent of respondents as extremely/very important, followed by unemployment and the federal budget deficit, with 82 percent each. (Respondents could rank multiple issues as extremely/very important.)

“When it comes to Americans' top three issues, Republicans put a little more emphasis than Democrats on the federal budget deficit, and Democrats put a little more emphasis than Republicans on healthcare costs, while the two parties have similar perceptions about unemployment,” Gallup wrote on its Web site. “Overall, large majorities of both groups consider all three of these issues highly important.”

Other issues Gallup determined include weak economic growth, cost of a college education, performance of savings or retirement investments, and the mortgage foreclosure crisis. Not surprisingly, Mitt Romney leads President Obama in those categories, save the cost of higher education.

[Political Malpractice: WA gubernatorial candidates at center of health reform debate.]

The remaining three issues are living standards for the poorest Americans, too much wealth controlled by too few, and government regulations on private enterprise.

When it comes to the top three issues, “Americans see Obama as better for healthcare costs, see Romney as better for the deficit, and have no clear candidate preference when it comes to unemployment,” according to Gallup. “This overall split decision actually extends to all 10 issues measured in the poll, with Romney favored by a significant margin on three issues and Obama on four, while the two are about tied on three others.”
 

For more of our primaries coverage, visit Political Malpractice: Healthcare in the 2012 Election.