Economy is top U.S. farm election issue: Reuters poll

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - As the election season kicks into high gear, farmers think the economy and immigration are the most important issues the presidential candidates should focus on as they campaign, a straw poll conducted by Reuters showed on Wednesday.

Reuters surveyed 686 of the 5,000 farmers attending the American Farm Bureau Federation's meeting in New Orleans this week. It found that 30 percent said the economy was the most important issue followed by immigration at 22 percent and taxes at 12 percent.

"A good, strong economy solves a lot of other problems in the country," said Dennis Reid, an Alabama poultry farmer.

The straw poll did not attempt to weigh responses by state, size of farm or other criteria. The Farm Bureau is the nation's largest farm group, representing producers of cattle and hogs as well as growers of cotton, corn, wheat and soybeans.

U.S. farmers have traditionally supported Republicans in the presidential race, including President George W. Bush in 2004.

And so far, this year is no exception. The poll showed that 82 percent would vote for one of the Republican candidates if the election were held today. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee garnered the most support among farm members sampled at 30 percent with Sen. John McCain closely behind at 29 percent. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was third with 9 percent.