Americans are split sharply this election year over what the government's top priorities should be, with Democrats most likely to say better schools, while Republicans give top rank to combating terrorism.
On some issues, large majorities on both sides agree, according to a new poll. Both Democrats and Republicans list improving the economy as among their top priorities.
And Democrats do list fighting terrorism as a top priority, although not as overwhelmingly as Republicans do.
But the priority list -- part of a survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center -- is most notable for the partisan divergences.
Among the priorities most often listed by Democratic respondents, in addition to improving education, were bettering the job situation, reducing the cost of healthcare and making the Medicare system sound.
