Majority of Americans put prices ahead of Iran war goals and punished pro-war candidates, poll finds

NEW YORK CITY: When American voters went to the polls in the midterm elections last week, more than twice as many of them wanted Washington to shield them from rising prices, compared with those who wanted to see US military goals fully met in Iran, according to a survey completed the night before the vote. They were also much more inclined to punish candidates who had backed the war than to reward them.

The findings help explain how the eight-month-old conflict contributed to the Republican defeat last week.

Fifty-six percent of respondents said the US should prioritize efforts to avoid higher prices at home, even if military goals in Iran were not fully met. Only 22 percent said Washington should pursue those war goals even if prices rose.