Early exit poll: 60 percent say economy top issue

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty

Updated 6:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Sixty percent of voters who cast ballots on Election Day or earlier say the economy is the most important issue in their vote, according to an early CBS News exit poll.

In CBS News/New York Times poll of likely voters taken shortly before the election, Mitt Romney had the edge over President Obama on the question of which candidate would do a better job handling the economy, 51 percent to 45 percent. 

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Americans head to the polls to vote

Eighteen percent of voters cited health care as their top issue. Voters were split on the 2010 health care law: 49 percent wanted to repeal some or all of it, while 44 percent wanted to expand it or keep it as is. Fifteen percent of voters called the deficit their top issue, and 4 percent cited foreign policy.

While 54 percent of voters said Mr. Obama's response to Superstorm Sandy had little to no impact on their vote, 42 percent say it was a factor in their vote. Polls showed Mr. Obama received high marks for his response to the storm.

These are early exit polls, and the figures will change as the evening goes on and more data comes in.

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Three in four voters said the economy is in bad condition. Thirty-eight percent said it is getting better, 32 percent said it is getting worse, and 28 percent said it was staying the same. Eighty-eight percent of Obama voters say the economy is getting better, while 91 percent of Romney voters say it's getting worse. Fifty-two percent of voters overall say the nation is on the wrong track, while 46 percent say it is headed in the right direction.

Asked to compare their family finances to four years ago, 27 percent of voters said they are better off today, while 32 percent said they are worse off. Four in 10 say they are about the same. Fifty-four percent said the U.S. economic system favors the wealthy, including 74 percent of Obama voters, while 40 percent called it fair to most Americans, including 77 percent of Romney voters.

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Voters were split on the most important quality for a candidate. Twenty-eight percent said it was that he have a vision for the future, while 29 percent said it was that he share their values; 20 percent said it was that the candidate cares about people, and 19 percent said it was that he is a strong leader.

Fifty-three percent of voters say the government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals, up 10 points from four years ago. That includes 76 percent of Romney voters. Forty-two percent say the government should do more, including 82 percent of Obama voters.

Fifty-two percent say Romney's policies favor the rich. Thirty-four percent say he favors the middle class, while just 2 percent say he favors the poor.

Only nine percent say Mr. Obama favors the rich. Forty-three percent say he favors the middle class, while 30 percent say he favors the poor.

Just 7 percent say they decided which candidate to support today or in the last few days.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Thank goodness the country rejected you're on your own for we're all in this together which we truly are.

[dougd120]

knowing an election can take some thought

[Jobless4Yrs]

I'm disappointed how Obama has dodged the Libya incident. He just mumbles all over himself when reporters ask him questions about it. He has no real leadership for foreign policy. We need a leader that can accomplish bringing back pride and strong security to our country. The expansion of terrorists is frightening. Getting Bin Laden did not finish this problem like what a lot of people think.

[fjbakerman]

I don't think its going to make much difference either way. Less government is the answer and neither of these guys is truly committed to that. They are way more alike than different. I don't know why people are so polarized over this. Obama has the people in mind but he does not have the executive knowledge or leadership skills to figure out how to pay for it. Hoping that Romney if he wins can work those skills to bring people together. Both of these guys are way more moderate then what people believe. Best wishes for the future let's try to be positive and help whoever ends up running the show.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Thw answer is smart government prioritizing resources and spending and not wasting it on stupid warsand military projects that the military doesn't even want.

[liberalhippyhater]

ECO99 That would be an out right lie, you have learned well from your liberal teachings!

[Eco99]

Ignorance is bliss isn't it Hippy.

[valhalla949]

I voted for Romney. Hope he wins in a surprise landslide tonight. Every country gets the government it deserves...

[IPDAILY121]

Liberals crack me up! how will we pay for all the entitlements when 1/4 of the working age population is not working paying taxes? The precentage of the working taking care of thoes that are not has dropped to dangerous all most European levels. 60% working taking care of 40% whom are not. Europe is right around 45% not working. The unemployment rates have not gone anywhere since this administration has been in office they are even higher than when they came in.
I hope Obama wins tonight. Then he passes all his taxing and spending programs. When we go bankrupt the last country says no we will not finance your debt. Where do you think the all mighty federal government will turn? That right folks to you and I. Opps there goes all that money you saved! Opps there goes that 401k! Opps there goes all that gold & silver you own! You don't have to look back to far in our resent history when the federal government conficated all gold and made it illegal to own. Remember Obama is for redistribution this will become the great redistribution of all time.

[misterjags]

Romney's Plan: Give the rich a tax cut, spend $2 trillion more on more on Defense, repeal Obamacare, cut Medicare, cut Medicaid, cut Student Aid, cut Science research funding, cut clean energy development, rollback emissions, ignore climate change, rollback new auto mileage requirements, drill baby drill (even though it won't effect the price more than a few cents), continue tax deductions for oil companies, eliminate the tuition tax deduction, eliminate the mortgage deduction, eliminate consumer protection agency, weaken regulation on Wall Street banks, and appoint conservative Supreme Court justices to overturn Roe vs. Wade, etc.

[cubscout09]

I agree, wholeheartedly, it's about time Ann Romney got a job.

[Eco99]

I guess what I have learned in the election year is a vast majority of people are fixed in their support of a political party and no matter the evidence or arguments opposing their view they will find a way to justify it even if that means ignoring facts or creating reasons to disagree. Studies by universities have proven this as our society becomes more polarized.
It is sad really that people are not more open minded but not sure what can be done about it. I do hope at least people see the actions taken over the last year or two in an attempt to suppress voting across the country but most notably in swing states, and that is not coincidence. Vote early and vote often might not be a joke anymore for some people ... it may sound melodramatic but the clock may be ticking on true democracy (one person one vote) in this country.

[Amyscurl]

Get out and vote if you haven't! The crazies are doing everything they can to win. Randell Terry has been airing disgusting dead fetus TV ads. They are obscene! Don't let Obama lose or we lose, and wingjobs like Terry will force their agendas on us.

[obamabiden2012]

"the crazies" - where does this come from? Everyone has a right to their vote. Let majority prevail.

[Eco99]

I know it's only ~2% reporting but I cannot believe Murdoch is ahead.