Terrorism Is Americans' Top Concern in 2015
NEWSMAX

For the first time in five years, Americans cite defending the United States against terrorism as the top priority in 2015, a new survey by the Pew Research Center reveals.

Seventy-six percent of respondents say terrorism is a top priority, just ahead of strengthening the nation's economy at 75 percent.

Since President Barack Obama began his second term in January 2013, the percentage of Pew respondents citing the economy as a top priority has declined 11 points, and improving the jobs situation had fallen 12 points to 67 percent, while concern over terrorism has risen 5 percentage points.

That concern is also reflected in a new survey from Rasmussen Reports, which discloses that just 23 percent of Americans think the U.S. and its allies are winning the war against terrorism, down from 39 percent a year ago.

Strengthening the military has risen sharply as a top priority, according to Pew, while global warming is near the bottom of the list of priorities.

Republicans are more concerned than Democrats about terrorism — it’s their overall top priority cited by 87 percent, compared to 74 percent of Democrats, whose overall top priority at 77 percent is improving the educational system.

Seven out of 10 Republicans cite strengthening the military as a top priority, as do just 41 percent of Democrats.

Republicans and Democrats agree regarding strengthening the nation's economy — 75 percent of both groups believe it is a top priority this year.

After terrorism and the economy, the issues most cited as a top priority are jobs (67 percent), education (67 percent), securing Social Security (66 percent), lowering the budget deficit (64 percent), reducing healthcare costs (64 percent), securing Medicare (61 percent), reducing crime (57 percent), aiding the poor and needy (55 percent), strengthening the military (52 percent), and immigration (52 percent).

Further down the list are protecting the environment (51 percent), addressing race relations (49 percent), tax reform (48 percent), energy problems (46 percent), reducing the influence of lobbyists (43 percent), improving transportation (42 percent), dealing with the role of money in politics (42 percent), supporting scientific research (41 percent), dealing with global warming (38 percent), and promoting global trade (30 percent).

The largest discrepancy between Republicans and Democrats is on the global warming issue — 54 percent of Democrats cite it, while just 15 percent of Republicans consider it a top priority.

The largest discrepancy according to age is on the issue of supporting scientific research — 53 percent of those 18 to 29 years of age cite it as a top priority, compared to just 32 percent of those 65 and over.