gut issue

But it is definitely a gut issue among some groups.

Few candidates are ready to deal with the gut issue of this November's election.

"The major gut issue is how do you effect these major policy changes among countries?"

"This is the major gut issue - how do we rejuvenate my party?"

The "gut issue" of the urban crisis, they said, was to provide more opportunities for the poor.

But the gut issue is distrust of politicians as a breed.

Political language certainly gets nasty here, but it has tended to focus on gut issues like national security and peace plans.

For me, the gut issue of survival was suddenly superimposed on professional concerns.

I always said it was a gut issue.

"This was a real gut issue for me.

The "gut issue" for juries, he added, "is whether people can quit."

"But he really tackles gut issues," she said.

"It's got a body of thought behind it, but it just doesn't strike me as a gut issue enough.

Buying a motorcycle is a gut issue, and until it comes to comparison shopping, no other principle is represented.

"He has a great sense of reading a business situation, understanding the gut issue and very quickly developing a strategy to address an issue," Blake said.

No gut issue like the war in Vietnam or the vivid symbolism of a vigorous black candidate divides Democrats.

"It's realy an emotional and a gut issue."

These are gut issues, said Mr. Sweeney, making his first foray into the thick of a labor dispute.

"Remember, this is a gut issue.

They were supposed to deal with the gut issues of Palestinian nationhood - secure borders, water, protection for Jewish settlers, Jerusalem.

James Carville, the legendary Clinton campaign adviser who coined the slogan, "It's the economy, stupid," knows a gut issue when he sees one.

Since then, our burning questions on economics have gone through bread-and-butter and pocketbook issues, while war-and-peace controversies are gut issues that can turn into switcher issues.

"I'm going to try and convince Democrats that though Weicker has provided them with some entertainment, on the gut issues he's not really there," said Mr. Lieberman, 46.

If the gut issue were settlements on the West Bank, the current Prime Minister, Yitzhak Shamir, would lead the right-wing Likud to victory.

"Our kids will do much better if medical conditions like gut issues or allergies are treated," said Lee Grossman, president of the Autism Society of America, a leading advocacy group.