It's The Economy
By Ron Beasley
Are you better off than you were seven years ago? Are you better off than you were even a year ago? Only a quarter of Americans say they are better off.
Voter pessimism over finances likely to influence polls
WASHINGTON — Americans are more downbeat about their personal financial situations now than they've been in decades, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, an attitude likely to dominate this year's presidential and congressional elections.
A 55% majority of those surveyed say their families are worse off financially than they were a year ago — the highest number since Gallup first asked the question in 1976 and a jump of 11 percentage points since February.
Just 26% say they are better off.
As the presidential primary season ends today with contests in Montana and South Dakota, the nationwide survey finds Illinois Sen. Barack Obama beginning to consolidate Democrats' support as the issue landscape for the fall is being shaped.
Obama now edges the presumptive Republican nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, by 47%-44% among registered voters. A month ago, McCain was ahead by 47%-45%. Both leads are within the margin of error of +/— 4 percentage points.
As I have pointed out here before John McCain is not just "McSame" when it comes to reckless foreign policy he is "McSame: when it comes to reckless economics as well. His association with his chief economic adviser, Phil Gramm, and Gramm's involvement with every economic catastrophe in the last seven years cannot be emphasized enough.
Update
I'm glad to see that the big guns are picking up the Gramm story.
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