MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) - A 10 percentage-point drop has been registered over the past year in the percentage of South Dakotans who view their quality of life as excellent or good, according to a Dakota Wesleyan University poll.

Pollsters at the McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service did their first survey on the question last year, when about 85 percent of respondents rated their quality of life as good or excellent.

This year's poll was done from March 24 to April 3. And the number dropped to 75 percent. Poll takers speculated the reason is tied to the economy.

According to other poll data, 37 percent of respondents thought the economy is the biggest issue facing the country, and the Iraq war garnered the next biggest response at 15 percent.

In South Dakota, the polling pool consisted of 267 residents 18 and older. Households called were selected at random from statewide telephone listings.

The poll's margin of error for entire statewide samples is plus or minus 6 percent.

(On the Net: www. mcgoverncenter.com/poll2008/index.htm.)