Read the full USA Today/Gallup Poll

Democrats hold a considerable advantage over the Republicans in public perceptions of which party can handle a variety of national issues. Democrats are preferred on six of ten issues polled, while Republicans lead on two. The new USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted Nov. 30-Dec. 2, finds the Democrats’ strongest issue areas include healthcare, the housing market, protecting Americans’ rights and freedoms, corruption in government, the economy, and Iraq. The two parties are roughly tied on moral values and taxes. The Republican Party leads in public perceptions of which party can better handle terrorism and illegal immigration, but not by as much as the Democrats lead on their best signature issues.