gut issue
hot-button issue

But it is definitely a gut issue among some groups.

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

I always said it was a gut issue.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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