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Key Election Indicators

Key Election Indicators

Americans’ overall level of satisfaction with the way things are going in the country is quite low, currently at 35%. The chart displays the trend in satisfaction for midterm election years since 1990. Satisfaction with the state of the nation this year has averaged just 31%. This is at low levels that Â鶹´«Ã½AV also observed in 1982 and 1994, both years in which the incumbent party lost significant numbers of congressional seats. This suggests a difficult environment for Republicans in the elections this November.

General Mood of the Nation
(Percent saying satisfied with the way things are going)
Among National Adults


Year

Election
outcome

Net change in Dem. seats

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

Jun.

Jul.

Aug.

Sep. (1)

Sep. (2)

Sep. (3)

Oct. (1)

Oct. (2)

Oct. (3)

Final Poll

1974

59-41 D

+43

1978

55-46 D

-11

1982

56-44 D

+26

25

24

1986

--

+5

66

69

58

1990

54-46 D

+9

55

45

43

51

37

29

31

1994

54-47 R

-53

35

36

35

32

33

33

31

1998

50-50 R

+5

63

62

58

59

62

2002

52-48 R

-3

65

61

61

61

56

52

49

47

47

47

48

2006

--

--

35

35

29

27

25

30

32

28

32

30

35

In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?

 

Satisfied

Dissatisfied

No opinion

%

%

%

2006

2006 Nov 2-5

35

61

4

2006 Oct 9-12

30

68

2

2006 Sep 7-10

32

67

2

2006 Aug 7-10

28

69

3

2006 Jul 21-23

33

65

2

2006 Jul 6-9

32

65

3

2006 Jun 1-4

30

67

2

2006 May 8-11

25

72

3

2006 Apr 10-13

27

71

2

2006 Mar 13-16

29

68

2

2006 Feb 6-9

35

62

3

2006 Jan 20-22

35

62

3

2006 Jan 9-12

36

61

3




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