The first national exit polls are coming in from the Associated Press, and they confirm what we already knew. For the voters, it's the economy, stupid, and there is virtual unanimity that the US economy is in a very bad place.
The early figures say the economy was the number one issue for 62% of voters. A year ago, Iraq was the big issue, but today only one in ten voters think it is their most pressing concern. After that comes terrorism, healthcare and energy. A contrarian 6% of the population say the economy is in excellent shape. They may just be trying to wind up the pollsters, or it might be a personal remark, that they are doing fine thank you very much. More than 90%, however, have a more sober assessment, saying the economy is in poor shape.
This can only be good news for Barack Obama. The financial collapse was the turning point that put him solidly ahead in the polls. The economy is a winning issue for him. Interestingly, substantial majorities believe both Obama and McCain will raise their taxes. That suggests that a key distinction John McCain attempted to make has not registered with most voters.
