A new study finds voters agree healthcare is an important issue in choosing a president but are split on which candidate best represents their views.
The poll by TNS Healthcare, New York, finds healthcare concerns are particularly important to voters 65 or older, with 75% saying health issues will play a major role in their presidential choice.
Even among voters aged 18-29, 59% give very high importance to health issues, the market research firm found.
Almost 70% of women and 63% of men say that they will give high importance to healthcare when deciding which candidate to support, TNS reports.
Almost 60% also say they will strongly consider the healthcare positions of potential vice presidents when deciding how to cast their votes.
Among all the issues voters are considering in choosing the next president, healthcare ranks fourth, after economy/jobs, the war in Iraq and energy. Voters ranked healthcare as more important than terrorism, the financial crisis, Social Security, immigration, education, the environment and the trade deficit, TNS found.