Finally, no matter what the poll, overwhelming numbers of Americans believe America is well on the wrong track. No president has ever gotten re-elected in this environment. It doesn't happen. You all know this. It's a fact. It wasn't until the very end of the campaigns of 1980 and 1992 when the negative state of affairs caught up to Presidents Carter and Bush, and 2012 may be the same. Don't be surprised if on Halloween, polls are showing a huge Romney surge.
In early September 1980/1992 Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush had approval ratings of 37% and 39% respectively (and those
were the convention bounces). Barack Obama currently has an approval rating of 50% (again, the result of a convention bounce).
(All numbers from Gallup).
