North Dakotans think the war in Iraq is the single most important issue in the 2008 presidential elections and rate Arizona Sen. John McCain highest among top- tier candidates, according to a poll out Wednesday.

The poll, conducted by D.H Research on 400 likely voters, found that 42.5 percent think the Iraq war is the biggest issue of the election. Health care came in a distant second at 14.3 percent and the economy third at 9.3 percent.

Among four Republican candidates - McCain, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson - McCain fared best with a score of 5.28 on a scale of one to nine.

Among three Democratic candidates -New York Sen. and former first lady Hillary Clinton, former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama - Obama fared best with a score of 4.49.

Leaders of both North Dakota's political parties predicted that the poll means good things for their side.

"If you look at the top three issues, those are all issues that Democrats have taken a lead on," said Jamie Selzler, executive director of the North Dakota Democratic Party. "If folks go to the polls to vote on those issues next year, they're going to be voting Democratic."

Gary Emineth, chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, said it was encouraging that the top Republican was rated better than the top Democrat.

Emineth also said that he thought the national expectation that continuing the Iraq war will drag down Republicans in 2008 will not apply in North Dakota.

"I didn't see anything in that poll that says we should get out of Iraq," he said. "It shows that a lot of people are concerned about the war and want a candidate in 2008 who shares those concerns."

The poll also split the candidate opinions by independent, Democratic and Republican voters.

Republicans and independents like McCain best, giving him scores of 5.94 and 5.29 respectively. Democrats like Clinton best with a score of 7.09.

As in national polls, Clinton appeared to be the most politically polarizing of the candidates. She rated highest among Democrats and undecided voters, but lowest among Republicans and second lowest overall.

Emineth said the results show that Republicans will get a boost in North Dakota if Clinton is the Democrats' candidate. Selzler said it shows that the most important voters - the undecided ones - are leaning towards a Democrat.

The poll also asked respondents what they thought of the George W. Bush presidency, Congress and the general direction of the country. Forty- two percent approved of Bush's job as president, 35.75 approved of the Democrat-controlled Congress and 34.75 percent thought the country is headed in the right direction.

D.H Research is a subsidiary of Odney Advertising, a Bismarck firm whose members have done work for Republican candidates in the past.

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(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 223-8482 or jonathan.rivoli@;bismarcktribune.com)