"I'd go buy a hamburger"

On the heels of Friday's Department of Labor report that the economy actually lost jobs in January, the first time in 53 months, a new Washington Post-ABC poll reveals that public views of the national economy are the most negative in nearly 15 years. The economy is now the single most important issue in Americans' choice for president, followed by the Iraq war, and health care. The poll further indicates that Americans are underwhelmed by the proposed stimulus packages in Congress. "I'd go buy a hamburger," said one respondent when asked how he would spend his government check.

And as we've pointed out, many Americans have been in recession for months now, as wages stagnate, mortgages crash, median income falls, and health care costs rise, all with little response from our leaders. The poll reveals what we've been saying - that many Americans are looking for a longer-term economic strategy, one that goes beyond fiscal stimuli: 51% of Americans feel pessimistic about the national economy (vs. 33% in Dec. 2006) and 30% feel pessimistic about their family's financial situation (vs. 16% in Dec. 2006). Tomorrow, let's watch just what role the economy plays in Super Tuesday. On the Democratic side, it's a battle for "change" but the old Clinton refrain of "It's the Economy, Stupid," may be back in vogue.