Poll finds anger over country's leaders

Poll finds anger over country's leaders

By Susan Page
USA Today
May 28, 2010

WASHINGTON — Americans are increasingly optimistic about the economy, but that brightening outlook hasn't softened their outrage over the country's direction and its political leadership, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds.

Two-thirds of those surveyed this week describe themselves as "angry" about the way things are going in the USA, the highest percentage in the decade the question has been asked. By nearly 2-1, they would rather vote for a candidate who has never served in Congress over one with experience.

"We're just going to have to clean house and get people in who really care about the country," says Stephen Besz, 63, of Hokendauqua, Penn., who was among those called in the poll. He worries about the future for his son, an electrical engineer who has been looking for a job for 18 months.

On Memorial Day weekend, incumbents in general and Democrats in particular face a hot summer.

The nation's mood hasn't eased even though attitudes on the economy have begun to turn around. About half of Americans rated the economy as "poor" in April and May, not a glowing appraisal but the lowest percentage since the economic meltdown in September 2008. Half say it's getting better, the highest level of optimism in six years.

"I wouldn't say bad, but you can't say good," says John Harbachuck, 51, of Millville, Mass. "It's reached a level point. You hope it's going up."

Still, three of four remain dissatisfied with the nation's course.

White House adviser David Axelrod says that's not surprising. "There's been a lot of frustrations and grievance building up for years," he says. "For many Americans, it (the recovery) still hasn't touched their lives."

The findings are sobering for incumbents who hope an improving economy will ameliorate the throw-the-bums-out sentiment before November. Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, says "confidence is picking up" among voters, but he acknowledges, "Democrats have an uphill battle."

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, head of the GOP Senate campaign committee, says the party has "the wind at our back" and might regain control of Congress.

The poll finds a huge intensity gap between the parties: 50% of Republicans are "extremely motivated" to vote this year; 30% of Democrats are.

"Normally I vote Democrat, but right now I'm not real sure," says Sherry Havard, 60, of Newton, Texas. "I just don't like what they're doing right now."

Among registered voters, 42% say their view of Obama is "very important" in their vote for Congress. That's likely to cut both ways: The group includes 43% of Democrats and 49% of Republicans.

Looks like he hasn't been able to deliver on the hype so far. Though to be fair to him, his first 18 months in power have been blighted by the worst recession for 70 years.

The recession isn't his fault. I give him that. He's pushed too many left-wing or controversial things and the country isn't in the mood for it right now. The economy should've been his main focus and it never has been to this day. It will be his undoing in 2012.