The economy is, by virtually everyone’s account, the driving force behind the 2012 election, and yet, more than three months into a renewed economic slowdown, the impact has yet to dent President Obama’s standing in the polls. … The economy began showing signs in April of running out of steam. Since then, three monthly jobs reports in a row have come in below analysts’ expectations, and numerous other economic indicators have soured. But no trace of that has shown up in the extensive polling of the presidential race. [cont.]
David Lauter, Los Angeles Times