Unbelievable poll on importance of issues among voters

[PhiBetaCretin1]

I can't believe the poll I saw reported just now on ABC. I didn't catch the numbers but among Democrats the issues ranked thusly:
1 - economy
2 - Iraq
3 - I can't remember if healthcare was 3 or 4
4 - and I can't remember the other issue cited (sorry)

And among Repugs:
1 - economy
2 - immigration
3 - Iraq
4 - terrorism

What I can't fathom is:   IF the economy is so important to those Repukes, WHY do their candidates focus so much on issues that rank lower? harping on terra, Iran, WMDs, gay marriage, etc.   AND - while I'm not surprised about immigration being 2nd - with Iraq and terrorism lagging so far behind 1) WHY are they even Republicans? and 2) WHY do all their candidates play the terror and war cards to the hilt?? :shrug: - (Guess this explains --among other well-known reasons-- why Giuliani sank so fast.)

[Proud2BAmurkin]

1. Because they know the Democrat will kill them on the economy in the GE so they

have to play up national security