Economy, inflation primary factors for American voters in midterm: Poll

Most Americans say the economy and inflation are the primary factors in determining how they will vote for Congress in the midterm elections this November, a new poll has found.

US inflation rose to its highest level in 40 years in March and currently is hovering around 8 percent. American consumers have been significantly affected by the rising cost of basic goods and services, including gas and food.

In the latest ABC News/Ipsos poll, more than 80 percent of Americans said the economy and inflation were an extremely or very important factor shaping up their vote this fall.

President Joe Biden has received low approval ratings for his handling of these key issues, suggesting trouble for the president and Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm.

The poll found that slightly more than a third of Americans, 37 percent, approve of how Biden is handling the economy, and even fewer approve of his handling of inflation and gas prices-- 28 and 27 percent respectively.

Gas prices in US doubled under Biden administration

The gasoline prices have hit another all-time high in the United States, as President Joe Biden continues his war on American energy, amid the conflict in Ukraine. 

The latest jobs report said that the US economy added 390,000 jobs in May while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

President Biden praised the jobs report as “excellent,” but acknowledged that many Americans were worried about the status of the US economy.

"I know that even with today's good news, a lot of Americans remain anxious, and I understand the feeling," Biden said.

President Biden has called combating inflation his “top domestic priority” and the White House has been searching frantically for remedies.

The administration has taken several steps toward that goal, including by agreeing to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to generate relief at the pump. Biden is also considering lifting some tariffs on Chinese products to ease inflation.

The ABC News/Ipsos poll also found that gun violence and abortion rights are two important factors in the upcoming election. Seventy-two percent of respondents said gun violence was extremely or very important and 63 percent said the same thing about abortion.

Seventy-percent of those surveyed said they think reforming gun laws should be a higher priority than protecting the right to own guns. Only 29 percent said protecting the right to own a firearm was more important.

Nine dead in three mass shootings across United States

Shootings in three American cities killed nine people and wounded two dozen more on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

On Thursday, Biden addressed the nation in the wake of a series of mass shootings across the United States and said if members of Congress fail to act, the American people will vote them out.

"If Congress fails, I believe this time a majority of the American people won't give up. I believe the majority of you will act to turn your outrage into making this issue central to your vote. Enough," he said.

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