Research

Americans Are “Deeply Pessimistic” About The State Of The Country

Americans Remain “Deeply Pessimistic” About The Economy And The State Of The Nation. “One year out before President Barack Obama faces voters in his bid for re-election, he encounters an American public that remains deeply pessimistic about the state of the country and its economy, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.” (Mark Murray, “NBC Poll: Despite National Pessimism, Obama Tops GOP Foes,” MSNBC, 11/7/11) 

“Nearly Three-Quarters Of Respondents Believe The Nation Is Headed In The Wrong Direction; Just 25 Percent Think The U.S. Economy Will Improve In The Next 12 Months; And A Solid Majority Says The Country Is Experiencing The Start Of A Long-Term Decline.” (Mark Murray, “NBC Poll: Despite National Pessimism, Obama Tops GOP Foes,” MSNBC, 11/7/11)

When Asked For A Single Word About How Respondents Feel About The Country, 58 Percent Had Negative Responses, Including “We’re In The Gutter.” “The poll asked respondents to give a single word or short phrase to best describe how they feel about where things stand in the country. Some of the answers: ‘We are in the dump.’ ‘Very unstable.’ ‘We’re in the gutter.’ ‘Very challenging.’ Overall, 58 percent of these responses are negative, 33 percent are neutral and just 9 percent are positive.” (Mark Murray, “NBC Poll: Despite National Pessimism, Obama Tops GOP Foes,” MSNBC, 11/7/11)

“The Poll Detailed A Broader Factor Likely To Color The Contest: The Electorate Is Angry And Disaffected.” (Jonathan Weisman, “Poll Finds Voters Deeply Torn,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/8/11)

• “The Coming Election Is ‘Not About Hope Over The Horizon But The Grim Reality Of Keeping Your Chin Above Water,’ Mr. Hart Said.” (Jonathan Weisman, “Poll Finds Voters Deeply Torn,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/8/11)

And Think That Obama Has Failed To Live Up To The 2008 Hype

Obama Has Maintained A “Consistently Mediocre” Approval Rating “Despite Weeks Of Campaign Style Events To Sell His Vision To Jumpstart The Economy.” CHUCK TODD:“Despite weeks of campaign style events to sell his vision to jumpstart the economy…  OBAMA: “To put Americans back to work and give our economy a boost.” TODD: “President Obama has been unable to win over any new supporters. His approval rating has remained consistently mediocre for the last three months with 44 percent approving and a slight majority- 51 percent disapproving. And even more Americans – 57 percent – disapprove of his handling of the economy.” (NBC’s “Nightly News,” 11/7/11)

• Watch The Clip Here

74 Percent Of Americans Think Obama Has Fallen Short On The Economy. “And nearly three-quarters of respondents say that his administration has fallen short on improving oversight of Wall Street and the banks (74 percent), on the federal budget deficit (74 percent), on the economy (74 percent) and on changing business as usual in Washington (72 percent).” (Mark Murray, “NBC Poll: Despite National Pessimism, Obama Tops GOP Foes,” MSNBC, 11/7/11)

• Only Two In Ten Say Obama’s Policies Have Helped The Economy, While Three In Ten Say He’s Hurt The Economy. “But just two in 10 think his economic policies have helped the economy, while three in 10 contend they have hurt it. Almost half say they haven’t made much of a difference.” (Mark Murray, “NBC Poll: Despite National Pessimism, Obama Tops GOP Foes,” MSNBC, 11/7/11)
• Only 40 Percent Of Americans Approve Of Obama’s Handling Of The Economy. “Also, just 40 percent approve of his handling of the economy, which is up one point from October.” (Mark Murray, “NBC Poll: Despite National Pessimism, Obama Tops GOP Foes,” MSNBC, 11/7/11)

70 Percent Of Americans Think Obama Has Fallen Short On Reducing Government Spending. (NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey, 1000 A, MoE 3.1%, 11/2-5/11)

• 53 Percent Of Americans Think The Debt And The Size Of Government “Must Be Cut Significantly,” Regulations Should Be “Pared Back” And Taxes Should Not Be Raised On Anyone. “At the same time, 53% of the country believes—and 33% believe strongly—that the national debt and the size of government must be cut significantly, that regulations on business should be pared back, and that taxes shouldn't be raised on anybody.” (Jonathan Weisman, “Poll Finds Voters Deeply Torn,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/8/11)

72 Percent Of Americans Think Obama Has Failed To Change Washington. “And nearly three-quarters of respondents say that his administration has fallen short on improving oversight of Wall Street and the banks (74 percent), on the federal budget deficit (74 percent), on the economy (74 percent) and on changing business as usual in Washington (72 percent).” (Mark Murray, “NBC Poll: Despite National Pessimism, Obama Tops GOP Foes,” MSNBC, 11/7/11)

66 Percent Of Americans Think Obama Has Fallen Short On Standing Up To Special Interests. (NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey, 1000 A, MoE 3.1%, 11/2-5/11)

All Of Which Adds Up To Democrats Losing Ground On The 2012 Electoral Map

MSNBC’s Chuck Todd: “Today, this morning, it’s the new NBC News battleground map. The bottom line: the presidential contest is shaping up to be very competitive and potentially very close. Think 2004 meets 2000, but with the 2008 states. And our year out map shows the toll this summer has taken on the president. Since we rolled out the last NBC News battleground map in April, five states have shifted towards the republicans including Pennsylvania and Michigan, which are now in our toss up column.  Altogether the election will likely come down to these eleven toss up states. They fall roughly into three regions. The Midwest/Rust Belt, the new south and the west. So take a look at them here. You’ve got your Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, making up the Rust Belt, Wisconsin, Iowa, more of the agricultural Midwest. Then Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico out west, and those new south states of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. Remember, ultimately the presidential contest is a game of math and in the race to 270, democrats have lost ground since April. Democrats now have 196 electoral votes in their column, if you combine our leans, likely, and solids. Republicans have 195 and 147 electoral votes are considered a toss up. In April it was 232 electoral votes in some shade of blue. The quickest way now for the president to find the 74 electoral votes he would need in our battleground map is as follows: Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Colorado gets him to 272. Now, what's the quickest way for him to get to 270 without Florida and Ohio. Well, he would have to win Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia – excuse me, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, Iowa and New Mexico. So, that's the whole point of the Obama strategy, which is to have different paths to 270 that would avoid them having to camp out in Florida or Ohio.” (MSNBC’s “The Daily Rundown,” 11/7/11)