9%. Gallup: "Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain are set to meet for the second presidential debate in Nashville Tuesday night at a time when only 9% of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the United States -- the lowest such reading in Gallup Poll history. ... The previous low point for Gallup's measure of satisfaction had been 12%, recorded back in 1979, in the midst of rising prices and gas shortages when Jimmy Carter was president."

The accompanying graph really makes this year look comparable to 1980 and 1992, except public confidence is lower now.

Also striking from the poll, how few people think any of these social/wedge/culture issues that have recently been revived are a top concern (5%), whereas 69% of those polled think the economy, of course, is a top concern.

It would seem the implications for the recent turn in McCain/Palin's campaign are that it is not likely to help them with anyone but the people they already got, and not get them the people they need.

Posted by Laura at October 7, 2008 01:24 PM