(Chicago, IL) — April 20, 2010. The scale of the political problems facing Democrats can be viewed through the prism of the U.S. economic problems and anxieties faced by Americans, according to a new Pew Research Center poll.
Americans are united in the belief that the economy is in bad shape (92% give it a negative rating), and for many the repercussions are hitting close to home. Fully 70% of Americans say they have faced one or more job or financial-related problems in the past year, up from 59% in February 2009.
Jobs have become difficult to find in local communities for 85% of Americans. A majority now says that someone in their household has been without a job or looking for work (54%); just 39% said this in February 2009. Only a quarter reports receiving a pay raise or a better job in the past year (24%), while almost an equal number say they have been laid off or lost a job (21%).
Yikes.
Unless Democrats and President Barack Obama can turn around those perceptions by summer, there will be grim results delivered to Washing in November.
Here in Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias can only view these figures with foreboding.
Gov. Pat Quinn
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