by KYW's Tony Romeo

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows that the economy is the biggest issue on the minds of voters across the country.

Maurice Carroll (right), director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, says the poll of likely voters nationwide was conducted from Tuesday through Saturday of last week:

“When you ask them what’s the biggest problem -– the thing that will most affect their vote -– nothing is close to the economy. Forty-four percent list the economy. Next down is 12 percent who cite Iraq.”

Despite the fact that the economy is perceived as a stronger issue for Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate leads Republican challenger John McCain by just five points in a national Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday.
  
After Iraq, the next highest issue cited by voters is energy and gasoline prices.  While listed by only 10 percent of voters, that is the highest rank for energy in seven years of national Quinnipiac polls.