One of the questions and results I look for in polling is the standard one that gauges the mood of the electorate, usually worded in this fashion:

…In general do you think that things in this country (or this part of Missouri, or in your area) are going in the right direction, or do you feel things are on the wrong track?…

If the numbers lean toward “wrong track” incumbents and the party in power are going to face a difficult election. If the electorate thinks things are going “in the right direction” then challengers and the party out of power will have a rougher go.

Let’s take a look at some recent national right direction/wrong track numbers:

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner

Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, June 22-25, 2008 (pdf)

…Q.7 Generally speaking, do you think that things in this country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?

Right direction – 15%

Wrong track – 78%

(Don’t know/refused) – 7%

Right – Wrong – -63%…

Not good, eh?

Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg

Data Tables – Survey 557 – Release #1 – June 24, 2008 (pdf)

…Q1. Do you think things in this country are generally going in the right direction or are they seriously off on the wrong track?

Right direction – 13%

Wrong track – 78%

Don’t know – 9%…

Not good at all.

Newsweek Poll

Princeton Survey Research Associates International

Final Topline Results (6/20/08) (pdf)

…2. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?

Satisfied – 14%

Dissatisfied – 80%

DK (don’t know) – 6%…

You get the picture? You can bet good money that republicans do. Nothing fails like complete failure.

This presidential election is going to be very interesting to watch.