Democrats favored when economy uncertain

[Ghost Dog]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061016/ap_on_el_ge/economic_uncertainties
By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP Economics Writer 21 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The nation's economy has encountered its shares of bumps this year, and voters are uneasy. They've seen the value of their homes drop and surging prices for energy and other goods take a big cut out of their paychecks. In the face of these uncertain economic times, they think Democrats can do a better job handling the economy.

Never mind that gasoline prices have started dropping, that the value of their 401(k)s rises with each new Dow Jones industrial average record, and that the interest rates on their credit cards and adjustable mortgages have leveled off for now.

"Even though the economy is doing well by some indicators, voters are still nervous about the economy," said Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Fordham University. "They watched gas prices come down but watched them go up just as precipitously not too long ago. The stock market is doing well but that doesn't mean it can't come crashing down in days. Voters are reluctant to be overly confident about economic trends," he said.

America's voters care deeply about pocketbook issues. Eighty-eight percent of likely voters say the economy is an important issue — on par with the percentage of people who view the situation in Iraq and terrorism as crucial matters, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll.

With the Nov. 7 elections looming, 59 percent of voters believe Democrats would do a better job handling the economy, while 39 percent prefer Republicans — the party that controls Congress and the White House.

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[NOLADEM]

1. "If you want to live like a Republican, you better vote like a Democrat"

Bill Clinton

[DavidDvorkin]

2. I think that was Harry Truman

[w4rma]

4. Truman: "If you want to live like a Republican, vote for a Democrat." (nt)

- President Harry S. Truman

[Dover]

3. Seems like a seasonal cycle...the Dems fill the coffers, the Pubs

drain them.

[gratuitous]

5. The economy was going pretty good about six years ago

We were running surpluses, paying off the national debt, workers were finally starting to see a bit of all the prosperity they were producing, then the Supreme Court annointed George W. Bush.

Since then, we've run record federal budget deficits, worker productivity is at all time highs while wages continue to lose ground, the ultrarich have gotten richer, and the wealth of the nation has been concentrated into fewer and fewer pockets.

Oh yeah, gas prices. They were unconscionably high when Bush came into office, according to the Republicans. Imagine having to shell out a buck and a half for a gallon of gas!

[OhioChick]

6. .......

" Unemployment in Ohio, Michigan and Mississippi, for instance, is much higher than the national figure, which dipped to 4.6 percent in September."