It seems to me the only thing that has happened in the last few weeks that voters would care about is the continuing lack of statistical reporting of job creation. Iraq seems no better or worse than in the past, and I don't think people really care one way or theother about Mars and all that other nonsense BUsh has been up to. The immigration policy is a total loser however.
Still I think the only thing that will determine the outcome of this election is the number of jobs that are created in the next 9 months or so. It will need to be quite high for Bush to remain. The average 'swing' voter apparently has no understanding of or interest in GDP growth, only jobs.
If the GDP growth doesn't benefit them they have no reason to be happy about it. And growth does not produce jobs, that's nonsense. It gives higher real wages, but not necessarily more jobs.
Yes, thats the point - the majority of people, who are employed, are better off. The small minority who are unemployed are quite a bit worse off. So even though the average worker is making more now than three years ago, and is benefiting from lower interest rates and other deflationary phenoma, he is feeling anxious about his job due to the others being unemployed.
