Hispanics Split on Election's Most Important Issue

Hispanics view the importance of immigration, healthcare and unemployment equally. When asked to rank the importance of a list of issues, Hispanics ranked the three at 20 percent, a new USA Today/Gallup poll showed.

But when the same question was posed only to Hispanic registered voters, healthcare was first at 21 percent, followed by unemployment at 19 percent and immigration at 12 percent.

Some 17 percent of both groups named economic growth as the most important with 11 percent of Hispanics and 16 percent of Hispanic registered voters going for the gap between rich and poor.

The federal budget deficit was named by just 7 percent of Hispanics and 11 percent of the registered voters.

The poll also found that Hispanics overwhelming support President Barack Obama over Republican Mitt Romney by 66 percent to 25 percent with 9 percent undecided —  similar to Hispanic preferences in the 2008 presidential election.”

The poll surveyed 1,753 Hispanic adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from April 16-May 31. The sample included 1,005  registered voters.