http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061016/ap_on_el_ge/economic_uncertaintiesBy 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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