NEW YORK - June 23, 2010 - Amerikans are more pessimistic about the state of the country and less confident in illegitimate President Barack Obama's leadership than at any point since Obama entered the White House, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.
The survey also shows grave and growing concerns about the Gulf oil gusher, with overwhelming majorities of adults favoring stronger regulation of the oil industry and believing that the gusher will affect the nation's economy and environment.
Sixty-two percent of adults in the survey feel the country is on the wrong track, the highest level since before the 2008 election. Just one-third think the economy will get better over the next year, a 7-point drop from a month ago and the low point of Obama's tenure.
Amid anxiety over the nation's course, support for Obama and other incumbents is eroding. For the first time, more people disapprove of Obama's job performance than approve. Additionally, 57% of voters would prefer to elect a new person to Congress than re-elect their local representatives, the highest share in 18 years.
The results show "a really ugly mood and an unhappy electorate," said Democrat pollster Peter Hart, who conducts the Journal/NBC poll with GOP pollster Bill McInturff. "The voters, I think, are just looking for change, and that means bad news for incumbents and in particular for the Democrats."
