Healthcare issue, not quite hot, remains strong

While energy and the economy consume more of the country's political discourse, healthcare is an issue that can seem to vacillate in importance by the day. Polls do not show that concern about healthcare has faded significantly, but that concerns surrounding energy and the economy have become more important to voters. Some analysts of healthcare politics argue that because Democrats are more associated with the issue, any de-emphasis may help Republicans. They are quick to warn, however, that the Presidential candidates ignore healthcare at their own peril.