Wrong Track Indicator Hits Another All-Time High

By: Vaughn Ververs
Topics: Polls

A new CBS News/New York Times poll finds that 89 percent of Americans believe that country is on the wrong track, a new all-time high surpassing the 83 percent who said the same earlier this year. Just seven percent of Americans in the poll said they felt the country was headed in the right direction, down from 14 percent in September. Solid majorities of Republicans, Democrats and Independents agreed that the nation is on the wrong track.

The right direction/wrong track number is a key indicator of the mood of the country and just three weeks from Election Day is further evidence of the economic crisis that has rattled the presidential race. The poll was conducted Friday through Monday, mostly following last week's historic drop in the stock market. Previous polls have shown voters are more confident in Barack Obama's ability to improve the economy and both candidates have recently unveiled new proposals aimed at easing concerns.

The full CBS News/New York Times poll will be released at 6:30 ET tonight. Tune into the CBS Evening news and check back here at CBSNews.com for full results.

The poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,070 adults nationwide, including 972 registered voters, interviewed by telephone October 10-13, 2008. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample and the sample of registered voters could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

186 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 186 Comments


by AlaskanPrincess October 16, 2008 1:15 PM EDT: Early Show is so biased it''s become part of McCain''s campaign and not a news show.Shades of last 2 elections: it was hands off Bush. And here we go again!
Prior to primaries, I sent email candidates/parties to express that I''m weary of negative campaigning, it would have an effect on my vote. After the primary there was an avowal for clean campaigns: despite that, McCain;s campaign has focused on negative and intensifies the closer we get to the general. Palin was exceptionally negative.
Mondale''s bid for presidency was tanked by his choice of running mate - Gerladine Ferraro. The media was quick to ''investigate'' her and the ensuing scandal (controversy about her personal finances, revelations of tax avoidance, and improprieties by both she, and her husband) doomed that campaign. Palin''s antics exceed Ferraro''s. This IS a concern because there IS the chance that Palin could become pres. BTW Palin was a communications major, which explains her slickness at public speaking.
Do we want a president AND VP whose approach when things get tough is to get negative and attack? This certainly isn''t tact or diplomacy, by any stretch of the imagination, skills that are needed to lead our country, at home and in foreign relations.
So much about McCain, and Palin, is not being reported it''s unfair to the American voter. I''m appalled at The Early Show for its obvious bias to McCain. One solution? Boycott Early Show and its advertisers. This isn''t ''news'' it''s propaganda.; Reply to this comment


by starleo146 October 15, 2008 10:20 PM EDT: It can not be voter fraud until there is a vote.

If I write my address wrong when I register is that voter fraud?

If I use Bugs Bunny as a prank, is that voter fraud?

Posted by IOWEIGN at 08:08 AM : Oct 15, 2008
+ report ab

Absolutely correct Ioweign, probably will fond out this is a republican prank anyways to make the dems look bad. Why if 89% of the American population think we are going in the wrong direction, why is it we have people voting republican? Unbelievable. I guess they haven''t been through enough.; Reply to this comment


by julez41 October 15, 2008 8:35 PM EDT: The poll should remind people just what four more years will be like. Making the rich;richer and the poor; poorer. And the middle class will become poor. If you doubt it, vote for McCain. Personally I can''t take another four years so I will NOT be voting for McCain. And don''t get me started on the one woman anti-women''s rights machine; Sarah Palin. Each person has to ask themselves if they''re better off than they were four years ago or eight years ago. I challenge there are a lot more McCain voters who are worse off and should reconsider their vote. Real change will only come with Barack Obama.; Reply to this comment


by hootal2 October 15, 2008 12:48 PM EDT: for the first time I agree with almost 90 percent of Americans. we are on the wrong path; we are about to elect obama.; Reply to this comment


by craigh9 October 15, 2008 11:34 AM EDT: America,

Do you want to set the country on the right path? Then let''s start a five year effort beginning with this election. VOTE AGAINST absolutely every member of government seated today. Be it national office, state, or local. We need a 100% replacement of each and every one of them. Experience in government is just code for - I know how to line my pockets and walk a fine enough line to continually get re-elected. If we get rid of every last one then maybe the general culture of our elected officials will move from the current "what''s in it for me" to "what''s in the best interest of the people I serve.
Don''t be fooled by thinking YOUR representative is different or hypnotized by the amount of PORK they bring to your area. Get rid of every seated politican and maybe from 2014 forward we will have a fighting chance.; Reply to this comment


by ioweign October 15, 2008 11:08 AM EDT: ACORN is doing more than committing vote fraud...they are stealing the power of MY (YOUR, HIS, HER) vote. It''''''''s not a petty juvenille crime to be dismissed lightly. It''''''''s subversive and treasonous. These guys should be tried, punished and then deported.

Posted by Toss_em_all at 07:00 PM : Oct 14, 2008

It can not be voter fraud until there is a vote.

If I write my address wrong when I register is that voter fraud?

If I use Bugs Bunny as a prank, is that voter fraud?; Reply to this comment


by abbe91 October 15, 2008 8:34 AM EDT: "I don''''''''t believe it. CBS isn''''''''t headlining the obligatory Palin bash story this evening. Guess the hate mongers at CBS took the night off.

Posted by Toss_em_all at 06:02 PM : Oct 14, 2008"

Here is one for you ...
Who said

"My government is my worst enemy. I''''m going to fight them with any means at hand."

?; Reply to this comment


by hjedtyj October 15, 2008 1:50 AM EDT: Wonder if it is true that the candidate that bumps off mutual opponent will win in November regardless of debates, issues and poll numbers?

Apparently mutual opponent exposed corruption within both political parties and is presently targeted.

The question is how without public attention or suspect?

Will the GOP solicit Guiliani-like mob ties such as used by his protege ex-NYPD commissioner who got indicted and may be jailed for up to 140 years? Or Gotti, Jr. who is currently on trial for conspiracy and murder?

Will Dems use an OJ Simpson-like black convict facing jail time?

Given this information, should we worry about our personal safety too? For example, will our car be tampered with Sunday during our 4 hour drive to Pennsylvania? Is it safe to walk or jog in public? Sleep in the middle of the night at as all our habits and plans are known in advance due to bugging devices?

Other question raised, since Obama was given debate questions beforehand to practice with in the two previous debates, did he get new ones scheduled for tomorrow too? Especially since it is well known that he does not do well without teleprompters?; Reply to this comment


by hjedtyj October 15, 2008 1:50 AM EDT: Wonder if it is true that the candidate that bumps off mutual opponent will win in November regardless of debates, issues and poll numbers?

Apparently mutual opponent exposed corruption within both political parties and is presently targeted.

The question is how without public attention or suspect?

Will the GOP solicit Guiliani-like mob ties such as used by his protege ex-NYPD commissioner who got indicted and may be jailed for up to 140 years? Or Gotti, Jr. who is currently on trial for conspiracy and murder?

Will Dems use an OJ Simpson-like black convict facing jail time?

Given this information, should we worry about our personal safety too? For example, will our car be tampered with Sunday during our 4 hour drive to Pennsylvania? Is it safe to walk or jog in public? Sleep in the middle of the night at as all our habits and plans are known in advance due to bugging devices?

Other question raised, since Obama was given debate questions beforehand to practice with in the two previous debates, did he get new ones scheduled for tomorrow too? Especially since it is well known that he does not do well without teleprompters?; Reply to this comment


by hokuto1 October 15, 2008 12:58 AM EDT: Toss_em_all wouldn''t know voter fraud if it bit him: "ACORN is doing more than committing vote fraud...they are stealing the power of MY (YOUR, HIS, HER) vote"

Please cite ONE CASE of voter fraud due to a mistaken registration made by ACORN. Do you even know the difference?; Reply to this comment