A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll found that 35% said price of gasoline was their highest concern. That was followed by availability of good jobs (28%), high taxes (18%) and mortgages or home values (18%).
The poll was taken on Sept. 5-7 and surveyed 1,022 adults. It has a margin of error of three percentage points.
The high price of fuel has sparked a debate in Washington over domestic crude production. A proposal to allow more offshore drilling has drawn fierce opposition in Congress.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Tuesday that congressional Democrats would be willing to compromise and allow limited drilling. After months of debate, neither the House nor the Senate has yet produced a comprehensive energy bill.
Issue in the campaignGas prices have been taking the top spot in the presidential race as well.
Republican candidate John McCain supports lifting the congressional ban on offshore drilling, as well as further development of nuclear power and development of electric vehicles.
McCain's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, supports drilling, and gained a reputation for taking a hardline stance against energy company interests after renegotiating a natural gas pipeline deal.
Democratic candidate Barack Obama said last month that he would support an energy policy that includes some offshore drilling.
Obama also supports a windfall profits tax on oil companies in order to provide a $1,000 rebate to U.S. households, development of gas-electric hybrid vehicles, and a 'use it or lose' it policy on existing oil and natural gas leases that would require oil companies to develop in government land land they've already borrowed.
Feeling the painWhile energy concerns led the list of economic concerns, the percentage of poll respondents who said that high gas prices were causing them "financial hardship" fell to 63% from 75% in July.
Indeed, gas was selling at $3.67 on Friday - more than 80 cents higher than it was a year ago - but 40 cents below its high point in July.
Commodity investors have been worried that the high price of gasoline and other petroleum-derived fuels have been cutting into demand.
Volatile gas prices ticked upward Friday as Hurricane Ike threatened the north Texas coast.
Gulf Coast gas prices spike
