Voters want more from Clinton, Trump on fiscal issues, poll says

The nation’s long-term fiscal health is a top priority for Americans, and they want to hear more about the problem from both presidential candidates.

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation said Friday that their September fiscal confidence index is 51, up a point from 50 in August, a sign that the the fiscal outlook remains a big issue for voters.

{mosads}In the index, a measure of attitudes about the nation’s long-term debt and the efforts elected leaders are making to address them, a reading below 100 indicates negative sentiment.

Although Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump acknowledged the nation’s debt issue during the first presidential debate on Monday, Americans want more discussion of policy solutions to the nation’s economic challenges.

“While the candidates have acknowledged that our growing national debt is a problem, Americans want to hear more,” said Michael A. Peterson, president and CEO of the Peterson Foundation.

“Voters are concerned about America’s fiscal and economic future, and the remaining debates are an ideal venue for the candidates to present their plans to put our nation on a sustainable fiscal path,” he said.

A clear majority, 63 percent, say the country is on the wrong track in addressing the national debt, and 81 percent of voters believe that President Obama and Congress should be spending more time addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, 66 percent voters say their level of concern about the national debt has increased over the last few years, and 75 percent want the issue to be among the top three priorities for elected officials.

The poll, commissioned by the Global Strategy Group and North Star Opinion Research, surveyed 1,007 registered voters between Sept. 19 and 22. The poll has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.