Economy tops governor voting issues

PDF: How the poll was conducted

By Richard Locker

locker@commercialappeal.com

NASHVILLE - When Republican Zach Wamp campaigned for votes Saturday morning at the busy Farmers Market in Franklin, Margaret Wilburn had a question for him: Why are the candidates for governor talking so much about immigration in their television ads?

As a small-business owner, she said the issue she's focused on in the governor's race is the down economy and jobs. "It's the economic situation: how is that going to be addressed. I'm trying to sell a business, and I can't. The tough part is finding the financing for a prospective buyer."

Wilburn isn't alone. A new poll conducted for the Tennessee Newspaper Network shows 54 percent of Tennesseans rank the economy and jobs as the single most important issue facing Tennessee today - followed by the related issue of government spending, taxes and the state budget shortfall, which 22 percent listed as the most important issue or problem.

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