A new CBS News poll released Tuesday night said the economy is the nation’s clear No. 1 priority, specifically citing unemployment.

The economy captured 38 percent of those surveyed, with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars coming in a distant second at 7 percent and healthcare at 6 percent.

The poll of randomly selected Americans was conducted July 9 to 12, and has a three percent margin of error.

What’s more, the poll found most Americans believe the economy is not progressing despite stimulus and bailout bills and expect the economic downturn to stretch at least another two years.

Eighty-two percent of Americans rated the condition of the economy as “bad” — the highest percentage since President Barack Obama first took office.

While the poll did find most Americans believe Obama takes decisive action, but are divided on whether he shares the same priorities of the country.

The poll found 52 percent of Americans were displeased with the amount of time Obama has spent on economic issues, and 86 percent said his policies, including the stimulus bill, have either hurt (23 percent) or had no impact on their economic situation (63 percent). Just 13 percent said Obama’s programs have helped them.

Americans, by a significant margin, said cutting taxes was a better approach to get the economy moving again (53 percent), with wide support from Republicans and independents, but 37 percent said tax money should be spend on job creation.

ARIZONA’S IMMIGRATION LAW

The poll found that 57 percent of Americans find Arizona’s immigration law — which allows officials to question citizenship of those stopped for other offenses if there is a reasonable suspicion — to be “about right,” with 17 percent saying the law “doesn’t go far enough.” Despite political outcry over the law, just 23 percent said the law — which will go into effect at the end of July — goes too far.

Moderates (58 percent) and conservatives (64 percent) also showed a strong belief in states’ abilities to prosecute illegal immigration laws, with only Democrats firmly against it.

HEALTHCARE

Regarding healthcare, 49 percent of Americans now disapprove of Obama’s healthcare overhaul, while just 36 approve — the highest recorded discrepancy since the bill was first passed. Just 13 percent said the overhaul would help them, while 33 percent said it would hurt them.

SUPREME COURT NOMINEE ELENA KAGAN

Regarding the confirmation of Elena Kagan, Americans were split with 21 percent in favor and 19 percent against, well within the three-point margin of error. Fifty-three percent answered “can’t say.”

While the “can’t say” number has been steady through the last Supreme Court nominees, Kagan is the most controversial nominee in poll history, with previous Obama nominee Sonia Sotomayor a distant second (30 percent in favor and 14 percent against).

AFGHANISTAN / IRAQ

Most Americans said the war in Afghanistan is going poorly (62 percent), while 55 percent said the Iraq War is going well.

Fifty four percent of Americans supported a timetable for withdrawal in Afghanistan.

GENERAL OPTIMISM

Americans, by and large, remain hopeful for the future, saying “things will get better” (59 percent). Just 36 percent said the “best days are behind.”