Poll: Anger at Slumping Economy Adds to Dems' Midterm Woes

Americans are growing more alarmed about the economy, spelling more bad news for Democrats with the crucial midterm congressional elections next week, according to a new public opinion poll released Wednesday.

Sixty-three percent of American called the economy "somewhat poor" or "very poor" in the CNN/ORC International survey of 1,018 adults conducted Oct. 24-26. Only 38 percent rated the economy as good, a drop of 4 percent from a similar poll in September.

"With the economy remaining the top issue on the voters' minds, the downturn in positive views of the economy could not have come at a worse time for Democrats," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

Republicans are widely expected to increase their hold on the House and are poised to take the Senate from the Democrats, who have controlled the upper chamber during President Barack Obama's six years in office.

The poll found a sharp division among Democrats, Republicans, and independents.

Fifty-five percent of Democrats insisted the economy is performing well, while only 28 percent of Republicans agreed. Independents were closer to Republicans, with 32 percent approving of the state of the economy.

Democrats were hit with more bad news in a CNN/ORC International poll released Tuesday that showed 53 percent of Americans disapprove of Obama's job performance and nearly 70 percent are angry with the direction in which the country is moving.

It also showed that Republicans are more enthusiastic than Democrats in voting on Nov. 4.

The survey found 30 percent of Americans are "very angry" and 38 percent are "somewhat angry" with the conditions in the county. Thirty-one percent said they weren't angry at all.

Holland, the CNN polling director, noted that the level of anger reflects the mood of the country in 2010 when Republicans took back the House.

The poll also found that 36 percent of Republicans are "extremely" or "very" enthusiastic about voting, while only 26 percent of Democrats express a similar feeling.

Obama's job performance was rated favorably only in the Northeast, where 51 percent approved, and in cities, where 60 percent approved.

However, most of the races that will decide control over the Senate are located in other regions where Obama's approval rating is in the low 40s.

Related Stories:

• Durable Goods Unexpectedly Fall as Business Investment Plans Plunge
• Republicans Poised to Retake Senate