It's true, people won't make voting decision based on the deficit alone, but there's no doubt that the issue is resonating in the context of a deteriorating economic picture.
From a 1/10-12 NBC News/WSJ poll:
Which one or two of the following issues and problems do you think should be the top priorities for the president and Congress to address this year? If you absolutely had to choose, which one or two issues would you say are the biggest priorities?
Strengthening the economy 45
Dealing with health care costs 29
Fighting terrorism 25
Dealing with Iraq 15
Reforming Social Security 14
Reducing the federal budget deficit 13
Reforming the tax system 11
All equally important (vol.) 9
None/Other (vol.) 1
On the issues, this is how the two parties fared:
When it comes to reducing the federal deficit, which party do you think would do a better job -- the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, both about the same or neither? (I ommited the "same" and "neither" responses.)
Democrats 37
Republicans 26
Protecting the environment
Democrats 51
Republicans 18
Dealing with health care:
Democrats 48
Republicans 22
Dealing with prescription drugs for seniors:
Democrats 42
Republicans 20
Strengthening laws against corporate corruption:
Democrats 39
Republicans 23
Dealing with energy policy:
Democrats 37
Republicans 25
Dealing with education:
Democrats 35
Republicans 29
Dealing with abortion:
Democrats 35
Republicans 33
Dealing with gay marriage:
Democrats 31
Republicans 28
Dealing with the economy:
Democrats 36
Republicans 36
Controlling government spending:
Democrats 31
Republicans 33
Dealing with taxes:
Democrats 35%
Republicans 37
Dealing with foreign policy:
Democrats 29%
Republicans 43
Promoting strong moral values:
Democrats 23%
Republicans 45
Dealing with the war on terrorism:
Democrats 23%
Republicans 46
Dealing with Iraq:
Democrats 23%
Republicans 48
Dealing with homeland security:
Democrats 18
Republicans 47
Ensuring a strong national defense:
Democrats 16
Republicans 53
The GOP will depend on its advantages on national security issues. Hopefully our nominee and candidates at all federal levels can use Iraq to chip away at those advantages. There's no doubt that Bush has given us plenty of good material with which to work.