Economy now atop Americans' concerns Poll shows 41% cite jobs, economy, federal deficit as biggest problems: WASHINGTON - For the first time since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the American people are more concerned about the nation's economic woes than about terrorism, war or Iraq, a new poll found.

Fully 41 percent of those polled cited the economy, unemployment or the federal budget deficit as the nation's biggest problem, while 29 percent pointed to issues related to war and terrorism, according to the poll released Friday by the Pew Research Center. President Bush's overall job-approval rating remains high - 72 percent - but that apparently has not translated into solid political support. Nineteen months before the 2004 presidential election, 48 percent of registered voters polled said they would support his re-election, while 34 percent said they would prefer a Democratic candidate. Bush's job-approval rating is up significantly from a prewar rating of 55 percent, but it is still well below the 89 percent approval mark his father, President George H.W. Bush, reached after the 1991 Persian Gulf War. That appears to reflect partisan feelings toward the current president. While 97 percent of Republicans support Bush, Democrats were divided, with 52 percent approving of Bush's performance, and 39 percent disapproving. Following the Gulf War, the elder Bush was backed by 72 percent of Democrats. With public attention focused on the war, Democratic presidential candidates have had a hard time getting their names out, the poll revealed. Only 32 percent of poll respondents could offer a name when asked who was running for the 2004 Democratic nomination for president. Sen. John Kerry led the familiarity race with 11 percent, followed by Sen. Joe Lieberman with 8 percent. Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, the Rev. Al Sharpton and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean trailed. Both major parties received positive ratings, with 57 percent saying they have a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, and 63 percent favorable toward the Republican Party. The random telephone poll of 924 adults was taken April 10-16. It has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5 percentage points.

Graphic: (A1) Economy is tops on country's worry list

APRIL Economy (including jobs, deficit) 41% Terrorism (including war in Iraq, security) 29% Other, no opinion 30% FEBRUARY Economy (including jobs, deficit) 29% Terrorism (including war in Iraq, security) 54% Other, no opinion 17%

Source: Telephone poll of 924 U.S. adults, April 10-16, by Princeton Research Associates for Pew Research Center; 4 percent error margin

Credit: Caller-Times