Economy trumps ISIS for voters in key states

Voters in four states with competitive Senate races say the economy will be their top concern when they go the polls next week, with many fewer citing the struggle against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as their No. 1 priority.

That’s according to new surveys conducted by NBC News/Marist College in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas and North Carolina.

For 20 percent of likely voters in North Carolina and 22 percent in Colorado, the collective issue of the economy and jobs remains the key in deciding their vote for Congress.

{mosads}Ten percent or fewer of the voters in those states reported the war with ISIS as their top concern.

The poll found incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) is tied with her Republican challenger, Thom Tillis. It also found incumbent Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) is in a virtual tie with his GOP challenger, Rep. Cory Gardner (Colo.). 

In Kansas and Iowa, likely voters said breaking partisan gridlock was their big issue. Economic growth and jobs came in second, with 17 percent in both states. 

Fewer than 10 percent of voters in those states named the war with ISIS as their top concern. 

The survey indicated the race between incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and independent Greg Orman is neck and neck. Republican Joni Ernst came out ahead of Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) by 3 percentage points in the Iowa Senate race. 

Voters did not name Ebola as a top issue in this year’s elections.

The polls surveyed more than 1,000 voters in each state, and each survey had a margin of error of about 3.6 percentage points.