OTHER NEWS FROM THE POLLING AND POLITICAL WORLD
Economic optimism the US is at a three-year high: On the heels of the country's lowest unemployment numbers in , Gallup finds 41% of people saying the economy is getting better, the highest in three years (up from a low of 9% in mid-2008).
Federal taxes at their lowest since 1950: Due in part to Obama's tax cuts for 95% of Americans, in 2010 federal taxes this year were the lowest share of the US economy in sixty years.
Obama beats all comers in hypothetical 2012 matchups: As of today, Fox News shows Obama beating all of his potential 2012 rivals they put him up against. Faring best against Obama: Mitt Romney, who trails 48%-41%. Faring worst: Sarah Palin, who trails him 56%-35%. Obama also handily beats Gingrich, Bush, and Huckabee.
We're living in the future: Twenty-six percent of Americans say they used their cell phones to learn about or participate in the 2010 midterm elections, according to Pew. Cell phone usage for political participation is higher among younger, African American, and college-educated voters.
Religious affiliation, American public versus Congress: Pew also has a comparison of the religious makeup of the US compared to the makeup of the U.S. Congress (House and Senate). Highest proportion of members of Congress, compared with the US population: Presbyterians, Catholics, and Jews. Lowest proportion compared with the US population: nondenominational Christians, Baptists, and nonreligious voters.
Rahm Emanuel holds a convincing lead in Chicago mayor's race: ABC7, the local Chicago ABC affiliate, finds Rahm Emanuel holds 54% of the vote. This total would put him over the 50% threshold he needs in this month's election to avoid a runoff. Rahm holds a convincing multi-racial coalition, as he holds a majority among white and African-American voters as well as a 47% plurality with Hispanic voters. Gery Chico is in 2nd place with 14%, followed by Miguel Del Valle at 8% and Carol Moseley Braun at 6%
Only 37% of voters want to repeal the new health care law: Pew finds that by a 55%-37% margin, voters do not want to repeal the new health care law. Just as many voters want to expand the law (35%) as repeal it (37%).
New Hampshire voters strongly support keeping gay marriage legal: A Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll commissioned by the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition found that 59% of Granite State voters support legal gay marriage and 63% oppose overturning the gay marriage law already on the books in New Hampshire. Forty-nine percent of voters strongly oppose overturning it, compared to only 23% who strongly favor overturning the law. 
