Poll: Americans take dimmer view of politics

(CBS News) Americans view both major parties more negatively than in the past - and the major party nominees more negatively than they did four years ago - according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll.

"For the first time at this point in at least six elections, voters are inclined to see both the Republican and Democratic parties unfavorably," USA Today reported, citing the poll's findings. More than four in 10 Americans now call themselves independents.

Four years ago at this point in the campaign cycle, President Obama was seen favorably by 63 percent of Americans. That's down to 53 percent. While GOP presidential nominee John McCain was viewed favorably by 59 percent of Americans four years ago at this point, Mitt Romney is now viewed favorably by just 48 percent of Americans.

Negative views could be driven in part by a flood of negative advertising in swing states from outside groups not officially affiliated with either campaign. Since candidates do not need to put their name on such ads, admakers have more latitude in making the spots more negative.

The survey found that Americans are receptive to Romney's claims that Mr. Obama has run what Romney calls "gutter" campaign tactics. While Mr. Obama was seen by 30 percent of Americans as unfairly attacking his opponent four years ago, 44 percent say that he is doing so now. Forty percent say Romney is attacking Mr. Obama unfairly.

The good news? The survey found Americans are slightly more optimistic about the direction of the country. The percentage of Americans who believe the economy is improving is 35 percent - up from 18 percent four years ago - and there has been a seven-point increase (to 25 percent) in the percentage who are satisfied with how things are going in America.

[zebra8835]

Want to impress me?

Build a few new factories so we can have good JOBS!

Talk is cheap and politicians are all full of hot air!

[realtimecoffee]

Are you going to pay twice as much for half as much Made in America goods? If not there is no point in building a factory, and certainly no point in government paying for it with our grandchildren's money.

[sandy 1027]

Both sides have run ads that are negative, but Mr. Romney has run several ads that are patently false, according to independent fact-checking organizations.The Soptic ad that many continue to complain about, made by an Obama SuperPac,was run only once on air; and I heard the president say several days ago that he didn't think that Mr. Romney killed Mrs.Soptic.Mitt Romney 's most egregious ads-such as the welfare ads, and Medicare ads- were made directly by his own campaign, and are airing on television stations across the country.I can't excuse any ads that the president has made that mislead to some degree, but to say that both campaigns have engaged in the same level of false advertising or speech is a false equivalence.The negative Bain ads, and tax ads that the president has run against Romney ,are relevant.They speak to the nature of the business itself, practices, and to disposition in regards to decision-making that would affect all Americans.In ads and on the "stump", Mr. Romney has said many things that are patently false; and has just today, as in many other times,but somewhat more subtly, engaged in racial politics, with the birth certificate remark.There is a "win at any cost" mentality that he has displayed, to play to certain elements in this country ;and is being deliberately divisive. It's despicable.

[realtimecoffee]

Vote for my guy, he's a little less horrible than your guy. The Dem/Rep scam just keeps on giving.

[mikeonthebay]

Obama has already accused Romney of killing a guy's wife, being a felon, being a tax cheat, being a money launderer, closing factories just to abuse families, being a draft dodger, torturing a dog, and assaulting a fellow student. The Occupy Wall Street movement is the best illustration to date of what President Barack Obama's America looks like. It is an America where the lawless, unaccomplished, ignorant and incompetent rule. It is an America where those who have sacrificed nothing pillage and destroy the lives of those who have sacrificed greatly.. The left is using any event as a distraction as it pursues the Saul Alinsky tactics of community organizing. Obama's game plan is to divide the community into the Haves and the Have Nots, make the Have Nots believe they are unjustly treated by the Haves, build resentment against the American social and economic system, use church congregations to mobilize street agitators, and lobby government for higher taxes and big-spending welfare programs in order to confiscate the wealth and power of the Haves and turn it over to the Have Nots.

[cubscout09]

You do realize that the "slippery slope" arguement is not valid?

[cubscout09]

One of the local Occupy organizers in my community is known for having been arrested for going to the GOP Senator's office and asking to speak with him. That GOP Senator was later trounced in 2008 when it became known that his family business was staffed by undocumented immigrants.

[YourRearViewMirror1]

Oh man, the Virtues of a Great Democracy!

"...by the people and for the people..."

WE THE PEOPLE get Exactly what they Deserve!

[YourRearViewMirror1]

Folks,

How a Political Party can become the Majority in Congress:

DESTROY THE ECONOMY SO SO DEEP THAT NOBODY AND NO PARTY AND NO PRESIDENT CAN RECOVER IT WITHIN 20 MONTHS.

[cubscout09]

Sadly, you obviously aren't familiar with my hometown fire department.

[YourRearViewMirror1]

Folks,

WE THE PEOPLE are Divided.

Only FOOLS expect the Government to Unite.

[realtimecoffee]

It's amazing how many people are here defending their half of the ugly Dem/Rep scam that has been driving the country in a death spiral for generations. As long as it's all about which party is a bit less terrible than the other there will be no happy ending.

[qyeteye]

Vote out the most corrupt of the corrupt. Regardless of party. If not voters get the mess they want and deserve.

[realtimecoffee]

Vote out the most corrupt of the corrupt.
---
Perfect example of why it will never get better. Vote out the dominate parties period. It's the structure that has failed us, not individual rotton apples.

[Filmguy870]

This is part and parcel of the RepubliCON Plan for Amerika: 1)lower the level of discourse (Fox "News"), 2)make specious claim that claim that both political parties are basically the same (which is not really true) thereby 3) turning off a portion of the electorate. They know that 4) their zealots will ALWAYS vote (to keep guns in the house, gays in the closet, and women in ConservaBurkas, with optional coat hanger) thereby guaranteeing a victory for their Corporate Overlords.

[skeezix06]

Turn the tv off till after the election. You'll be much happier and feel much better.

[marychgo]

Hundreds of millions of dollars in nasty, lying SuperPAC and 501(c)4 ads, most of them supporting the Republican ticket, most of them funded by a couple of dozen billionaires (or as Harry Reid called them, "17 bitter, old white men") might have something to do with the public's negative attitude, don't you think?

[JWinATL]

As opposed to Obama's SuperPac (also funded by 17 bitter, old white men) accusing Mitt Romney of murder?

[qyeteye]

Barry-been-inhalin - You confuse save our country with sale our country.