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The Water Cooler Title: Grim Voter Mood Turns Grimmer; Pessimism Rises on Economy and War; Bad Reviews for Both Democrats and GOP Americans are growing more pessimistic about the economy and the war in Afghanistan, and are losing faith that Democrats have better solutions than Republicans, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. [NBCpol_NS] Underpinning the gloom: Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the economy has yet to hit bottom, a sharply higher percentage than the 53% who felt that way in January. The sour national mood appears all-encompassing and is dragging down ratings for the GOP too, suggesting voters above all are disenchanted with the political establishment in Washington. Just 24% express positive feelings about the Republican Party, a new low in the 21-year history of the Journal's survey. Democrats are only slightly more popular, but also near an all-time low. A new WSJ/NBC News poll found that Americans are becoming grimmer about the economy with nearly two-thirds believing that the economy has yet to hit bottom. Peter Wallsten and David Weidner discuss. Also, Scott McCartney finds that some airlines are more fuel efficient than others, and others are gas guzzlers. The results likely foreshadow a poor showing in November's mid-term for Democrats, whose leaders had hoped the public would grow more optimistic about the economy and, as a result, more supportive of the party agenda. Now, despite the weak Republican numbers, the survey shows frustrated voters on the left are less interested than impassioned voters on the right to in the election. "Even with Republicans having low numbers, they are the opposition party and are going to benefit from people saying, 'We're ticked off and we want a change,"' said Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducted the survey with Democratic pollster Peter Hart. "The way you vote your discontent is to say you're going to vote Republican." Mr. Hart said the 2010 contest is being pulled by the sentiment associated with the JetBlue flight attendant who fled his plane via the emergency chute after an altercation with a passenger. Calling it the "JetBlue election," Mr. Hart said: "Everyone's hurling invective and they're all taking the emergency exit." As in recent polls, Americans are split on President Barack Obama's job performance, with 47% approving and 48% disapproving. But a majority disapproves of his performance on the economy. And six in 10, including 83% of independents and a quarter of Democrats, say they are only somewhat or not at all confident that Mr. Obama has the right policies to improve it. The survey suggests that Democrats should expect little if any appreciation from voters for legislative achievements such as overhauling the health care and financial systems. Six in 10 Americans rated Congress' performance this year as below average or one of the worst. And the economy is dominating voters' worries. Among those who believe the economy will get worse over the next year, 67% want a GOP-led Congress. "Several months ago I was very hopeful" said Fort Worth, Texas, public-schools administrator Susan Stitt, 63 years old, an independent who leans Republican. "But in May or so, about three months ago, I just started hearing more and more little things on the news that would chip away at my confidence." Denis Goulet, 59 years old, a contract manager for Verizon from Calvert County, Md., and a Democratic-leaning independent, said the economy made him "feel like Charlie Brown kicking the football." "Every time things start looking better, they start looking bad again" he said. Mr. Goulet said he has always voted for Democrats, but doesn't know how to vote this year. "I have gotten as wrapped up as anyone else just trying to stay afloat." The poll finds that 68% of Americans now feel less confident the war in Afghanistan will come to a successful conclusion. Above, U.S. soldiers gather after disembarking from a base in Kandahar.
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