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The media frenzy that accompanies presidential elections brings a sharp focus on practically every detail of a campaign, from the candidates' debate skills on down to their haircuts.

But for all the ink that candidates' campaigns get, Americans' feelings about their own personal finances and the economy likely will influence the outcome of the election more than any press conference gaffe or debate zinger.

As part of the June edition of the Bankrate's Financial Security Index, Bankrate asked Americans how much their personal finances would influence their vote in the presidential election.

The result? Nearly 6 in 10 Americans reported their personal finances will be either the "single most important factor" or "one of several important factors" in their choice of which candidate they'll pull the lever for in November.

Bankrate's survey was conducted by Princeton Research Associates International via landline and cellphone interviews from June 7 to 10, with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults in the continental U.S. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

In the survey, Americans were deeply divided about which candidate will help households get back on track financially. Of those surveyed, 21 percent said their personal financial situations would be better under former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 21 percent said they would be better under President Barack Obama and 8 percent were undecided.

Another 50 percent said the eventual winner wouldn't make much difference to their personal finances, suggesting neither candidate has really convinced voters they can fix the U.S. economy, says Matthew Singer, a professor of political science at the University of Connecticut.

That 50 percent number also hints at the deep economic pessimism in the country as the campaigns ramp up, says Michael Walden, the Reynolds distinguished professor of economics at North Carolina State University.

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Personal finances key to 2012 election