RASUMUSSEN REPORTS ON NATIONAL PESSIMISM - AT 9:35 A.M. ET:  Rasmussen's survey shows a steady trend:

For the third straight week, just one-third (34%) of likely voters believe the United States is heading in the right direction, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Rasmussen concedes that this is up considerably from the last months of the Bush administration, when the financial collapse occurred.  But still, for a new president to do so poorly in his first seven months in office is startling.

It gets worse when you look at the racial divide:

Seventy-one percent (71%) of African-American voters believe the country is heading in the right direction. Only 29% of white voters and 25% of all other voters agree.

It's understandable that African-American voters would want to cheer on President Obama, but their overwhelming support distorts the poll numbers.  Americans generally are in a bad mood.  If the economy revives, of course, that could change.  If it doesn't, Mr. Obama and his party are in for a tough time next year.

September 3, 2009