Americans now name terrorism, more than any other issue, as the most important problem facing the country in the wake of the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, according to a new poll.
Sixteen percent of Americans named terrorism the most important problem facing the country today in the Gallup poll released Monday, compared to 13 percent who said government, 9 percent who said the economy and 7 percent who said guns.
“In the past, mentions of terrorism as the most important U.S. problem have quickly fallen after a major incident,” wrote Gallup’s Rebecca Riffkin. “But two major attacks in short succession, at a time when concern about terrorism was already elevated given the threat of the Islamic State, have Americans on edge.”
The 16 percent figure is the highest percentage of Americans to mention terrorism in about a decade, and is up from 3 percent in November. The survey was conducted from Dec. 2-6.
The 9 percent figure for the economy, meanwhile, was the lowest figure since 2007 and down from 17 percent in November.
The percentage of Americans who named guns or gun control as the most important problem increased from 3 percent in November.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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