It’s the issue both presidential candidates have largely ignored as they court the nation’s growing Hispanic population, but one-out-of-four U.S. voters (26%) is still angry about the current immigration situation.

Twenty-eight percent (28%) express frustration about immigration, but for 43% it’s just one of many issues, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

With increased enforcement of the borders and America’s struggling economy serving as less of a magnet for illegal immigrants seeking better-paying jobs, it is perhaps not surprising that the number who are angry is down from 34% in August.

But as in August, 74% continue to believe the government is not doing enough to secure the nation’s borders. Just 12% think enough is being done.

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Only 35% say it is possible to end illegal immigration, compared to 52% who say it is not possible.

Sixty-two percent (62%) say gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers, but 29% think the latter is more important. Support for border control is down seven points since the last survey while backing for legalization is up by eight.

Fifty-six percent (56%) think immigration policy should welcome all except those who are criminals and national security threats. Twenty-seven percent (27%) disagree.

Hispanic voters, who generally support Democrat Barack Obama more than Republican John McCain, are expected to be a critical factor in several Western states and perhaps even in unexpected places such as North Carolina.

McCain co-sponsored with Sen. Ted Kennedy an immigration reform bill in 2007 that many conservatives viewed as amnesty for illegals. Then McCain angered many Hispanics by taking a more conservative seal-the-borders-first position in the Republican primaries. He’s largely been silent on the issue in the general election campaign, as has Obama with his growing Hispanic support.

Obama has enjoyed a modest lead over McCain every day for nearly a month in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Forty percent (40%) of likely McCain voters are angry about the current immigration situation. Among those who plan to vote for Obama, just 14% share the anger.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of those who plan to vote for McCain say gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers. Likely Obama voters are evenly divided on the importance of the two.

Anger at the current situation is highest among those earning the least since illegal workers compete more with these individuals for jobs. Forty-two percent (42%) of those earning less than $20,000 a year say they are angry about the present immigration situation compared to 15% of those earning more than $100,000 annually.

Support for controlling the border is also higher among lower-income respondents. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of those earning $20,000 to $40,000 a year say controlling the border is more important than legalization of illegal immigrants, a position shared by just 56% of those who make over $100,000 a year.

New presidential polling data also has been released this week from Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. See an overview of all state polls and the latest Electoral College projections. A total of 270 Electoral Votes are needed to win the White House (see 50-State Summary).

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