Economy top issue to GOP brass

Most of the Republican Party leaders responding to a Monitor survey say they think the economy is the prime issue in the fall campaign, Monitor correspondent Godfrey Sperling Jr. reports.

A total of 101 of the 162 members of the Republican National Committee -- state chairmen and national commiteemen and committeewomen -- responded to the survey. Of these, 61 picked the economy as the prime subject of public concern.

In many instances (45) these leaders further defined the main aspect of the economic issue as inflation. Several others mentioned "unemployment" and "recession" in detailing what they meant when they said the economy was the maim issue.

Fourteen leaders said they thought foreign affairs would be the top issue in the general election. Eleven put "weak leadership" as the issue that would most occupy the attention of the voters. "National security" was mentioned eight times.