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As presidential race continues, poll shows most Americans have little confidence in federal government

In this Dec. 1, 2014, file photo, the Capitol is seen at dusk in Washington. As the first 2016 presidential voting draws near, most Americans have little-to-no confidence in the federal government to confront what they see as its most important priorities in the next year, according to the results of a new national survey. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in December found more than six out of 10 respondents expressing only slight confidence, or none at all, that the federal government can make progress on the problems facing the country in 2016.(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
In this Dec. 1, 2014, file photo, the Capitol is seen at dusk in Washington. As the first 2016 presidential voting draws near, most Americans have little-to-no confidence in the federal government to confront what they see as its most important priorities in the next year, according to the results of a new national survey. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in December found more than six out of 10 respondents expressing only slight confidence, or none at all, that the federal government can make progress on the problems facing the country in 2016.(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

By Associated Press 5 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – As the first voting nears in the presidential race, most Americans have little to no confidence in the federal government to confront what they see as the country’s most important priorities, according to a national survey.

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, conducted in December, found more than 6 in 10 respondents expressed only slight confidence – or none at all – that the federal government can make progress on the problems facing the nation in 2016.

Terrorism edged health care as the issue most often mentioned – each by about one-third of those questioned – when people were asked to volunteer the issues they believe Washington should address this election year.

The polling suggests an electorate more focused on the economy and domestic affairs than on foreign policy. Two-thirds of respondents included an economic issue on their priority list, and about 4 in 5 named a domestic policy other than the economy.

In addition to those who mentioned terrorism, nearly half added another foreign policy matter, and immigration was the next most frequent topic raised.