But since then, economic angst has given way to high anxiety, making it the runaway No. 1 issue as the country prepares to vote for a new president Nov. 4.

It's easy to see why. In just eight months, the Wasatch Front's real estate slowdown has given way to falling home prices. Strong job growth has fizzled. More families are losing their homes to foreclosure, while others are straining to cope with ever-rising prices for food, gasoline, energy and rent.

Add the nation's financial crisis and sagging stock markets to the mix, and many Utahns are desperate for a president who can restore not only the health of the nation's economy but the well-being of its middle-class families.

Cassie Paup, a 44-year-old assistant manager at a health-foods store in Moab, wants the next president to rein in spending and help the country reduce its enormous debt. "We're spending way too much on the war in Iraq every day - we need to spend that money on our own country."

She's worried about leaving her 12-year-old daughter "a legacy of debt."

Her conclusion about the election? Barack Obama's her man. "We need some fresh faces in Washington," said Paup, one of dozens of Utahns randomly selected and asked to reflect on their top economic issues as they prepare to vote.

Most said fixing a broken economy that they think works against the struggling middle class should be the next president's top priority. The group reflected a mix of ages, races, incomes and political affiliations, and included those living in urban and rural areas.

Whether they are Republican or Democrat, or leaning toward John McCain or Obama, Utahns want the next administration to refocus the nation's attention - and its spending - on the economy.

"There's lots of instability and insecurity out there," said Patricia Dark, executive director of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "Most people I talk to say that either way the election goes, we will be in a better position than we are now. They're holding tight, not really doing anything and they'll start breathing again in the new year."

Jack Mitchell, CEO of Arco Packaging and Janitorial sales in Murray, thinks McCain will be the one to breathe new life into the economy. But he differs with the candidate on a key point - the twin wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think we no longer belong in Iraq. We did belong there at one time, but it's over and we need to come back. Afghanistan is a little different but we also need to phase out [there] and come home."

One common theme among the Utahns interviewed is the enormous expectations for the next president.

Zeona Navarro, 59, a receptionist in Salt Lake City, wants him to focus on issues such as inflation and the rising cost of health care.

Navarro said she earns $8.70 per hour, isn't eligible for health benefits and cannot afford to buy coverage on her own. The rising prices for necessities have become an acute problem.

"I have nothing in my refrigerator right now, nothing in my cupboard. It's really hard."

Nicki Pace, 39, who runs a restaurant in St. George with her husband, also is worried about necessities. Pace said in her business "food prices have just skyrocketed. And we're not able to reflect those increases in our entrée prices" because people already are cutting back their restaurant meals. Pace said she's leaning toward Obama because "he has a fresh outlook" on the economy.

For some, votes will be cast for broader reasons rather than personal ones.

Randy Parker is CEO of the Utah Farm Bureau, the state's largest agricultural organization, with 21,000 member families. He points out that McCain's support of free-trade agreements such as NAFTA will earn his vote because "one-third of our agriculture production needs to find international markets."

Many leaders from the state's 2,500 high-tech and life science firms see the quality of Utah's educational system and the lack of visas for highly skilled workers nationally as top issues, said Richard Nelson, CEO of the Utah Technology Council. He's hoping politics can be taken out of the visa discussion.

LeRoy Davidson, a 77-year-old retired electrician from Salt Lake City, believes the No. 1 priority is to fix an economy that he says has turned against older Americans.

"My Social Security has increased 2.3 percent. The Medicare premium has increased. My Medicare supplement premium has increased. Groceries have increased. My home heating bill has increased 20 percent. I no longer go fishing. I no longer visit parks. I eat less meat and more macaroni. I stay home a lot. Gasoline is out of reach."

Linda Smekens, a Salt Lake City gas/convenience store owner, said she wants to make a statement by voting for neither McCain nor Obama, and instead will cast her vote for Libertarian candidate Bob Barr. Sales of fuel at her station are down by one-fifth over last year. She says she's disgusted with the government bailout of the financial industry.

"I'm so thoroughly fed up with everything going on in this country right now. I'm ready to move to Canada."

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* PAUL BEEBE, MIKE GORRELL, TOM HARVEY, DAWN HOUSE and MICHAEL LIMON contributed to this story.