The economy has emerged as a top voting issue for Election 2008, but that broad topic means different things to different people. An earlier survey found that most Democrats believe that reducing the income gap between rich and poor is more important than creating economic growth. Most Republicans have the opposite view.

There is also a huge partisan gap when it comes to perceptions of the economy today. Data collected for the Rasmussen Consumer Index shows that 54% of Democrats rate the U.S. economy as poor. Just 27% of Republicans share that pessimistic evaluation (all data cited in this analysis is based upon data released February 16, 2008. While specific numbers may fluctuate slightly day-to-day, the overall dynamics of the partisan gap have remained quite stable over time).

Thirty-three percent (33%) of Republicans consider the economy good or excellent. Just 13% of Democrats agree.

When it comes to personal finances, Republicans are evenly divided as to whether their own finances are getting better or worse—37% are on each side of that question. However, 53% of Democrats say their finances are getting worse. Just 17% say they are getting better.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of Democrats say the economy is in a recession. Just 17% disagree. Republicans are evenly divided on that question as well.

The differing views even find their way into investment strategies. Democrats who invest are a bit more likely to put new investment money in a savings account rather than the stock market. Republicans, by a two-to-one margin, prefer the stock market. For both parties, a plurality would put new investment money in real estate.

By a 63% to 30% margin, Republican investors say their investments have gone up in value over the past year. Democrats are nearly evenly divided as to whether their investments have gone up or down.

As for those who are not affiliated with either major party, they tend to share the outlook of Democrats more than Republicans at this time. Fifty-five percent (55%) of unaffiliateds rate the economy as poor at this time. Just 14% say it is good or excellent. Twenty-one percent (21%) say their personal finances are getting better while 51% say they are getting worse. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of unaffiliateds believe the country is in a recession.

During the past week, consumer confidence fell to the lowest level of the post-9/11 era. The Rasmussen Consumer Index measures economic confidence on a daily basis.

Still, earlier surveys have shown that a plurality of unaffiliated voters believe the best thing the government can do to help the economy is to get out of the way by reducing taxes and regulation. That’s an approach embraced more by Republicans than Democrats.

Forty-five percent (45%) of voters nationwide believe that the best thing the government can do to stimulate the economy is cut government spending. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say cutting taxes is most important while 15% believe cutting interest rates is most effective. Just 4% favor an increase in government spending to stimulate the economy.

The stimulus package recently enacted by Congress and the President received just lukewarm reviews from the public.