2/3rds of Americans dissatisfied with Congress

USA Today:

Americans are increasingly optimistic about the economy, but that brightening outlook hasn't softened their outrage over the country's direction and its political leadership, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds.

Two-thirds of those surveyed this week describe themselves as "angry" about the way things are going in the USA, the highest percentage in the decade the question has been asked. By nearly 2-1, they would rather vote for a candidate who has never served in Congress over one with experience.

"We're just going to have to clean house and get people in who really care about the country," says Stephen Besz, 63, of Hokendauqua, Penn., who was among those called in the poll. He worries about the future for his son, an electrical engineer who has been looking for a job for 18 months.

On Memorial Day weekend, incumbents in general and Democrats in particular face a hot summer.

The nation's mood hasn't eased even though attitudes on the economy have begun to turn around. About half of Americans rated the economy as "poor" in April and May, not a glowing appraisal but the lowest percentage since the economic meltdown in September 2008. Half say it's getting better, the highest level of optimism in six years.

...

The findings are sobering for incumbents who hope an improving economy will ameliorate the throw-the-bums-out sentiment before November. Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, says "confidence is picking up" among voters, but he acknowledges, "Democrats have an uphill battle."

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, head of the GOP Senate campaign committee, says the party has "the wind at our back" and might regain control of Congress.

The poll finds a huge intensity gap between the parties: 50% of Republicans are "extremely motivated" to vote this year; 30% of Democrats are.

...

Democrats are in trouble because of the health care law monstrosity and they are also on the wrong side of the voters on border protection and immigration enforcement. Democrats are pushing through changes to the "Don't ask, don't" tell law to smooth the confirmation process for Kagan who tried to keep recruiters off of Harvard campus when she was dean of the Law School. Overall, Democrat spending is unpopular and many voters view it as a threat to the economy.