Do you wish the election were already over?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
While voting in the 2012 elections hasn't even started yet, most Americans wish it were already over.
A new USA Today/Gallup Poll shows 70% of those surveyed say they can't wait for the campaign to be over. That's compared to 26% who say they can't wait for it to start.
People living in 12 of the key swing states - places like Colorado, Florida and Pennsylvania - are dreading the election even more. Three-quarters of them say they can't wait for it all to be over, probably because they'll be the target of even more TV ads, mailers and robo-calls than the rest of us.
This negative attitude crosses party lines, with 67% of Democrats and 66% of Republicans saying they can't wait for the campaign to be over.
When it comes to age, senior citizens are the least likely to be looking forward to the campaign. Probably because they've been to enough of these rodeos to last them a lifetime.
Gallup pollsters suggest there are several reasons why Americans are already so negative about this presidential election.
For one - campaigns last too long. Republicans have already been at it for most of this year, and the general election is still 11 months away.
Also, politics and politicians in general are not very popular - to put it mildly. A recent poll found less than half of Americans say they trust the people who either hold or are running for political office.
Lastly, with the campaign come all those negative ads. Even though they work, a lot of people just don't like them.
And it's not just the ads. For the next 11 months get ready to eat, breathe and sleep this campaign... from the debates to the polls, the interviews, the pundits, you name it.
Here's my question to you: Do you wish the election were already over?
Tune in to "The Situation Room" at 5 p.m. ET to see if Jack reads your answer on the air.
And we'd love to know where you're writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
Should President Obama be more afraid of Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
While the Democrats wait to see whether President Obama faces off against Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich come November, a lot of them think Gingrich would be easier to beat. They may be very wrong. The latest CNN-Opinion Research Corp. national poll has them tied at 28%.
But as one Democratic adviser tells Politico: "Romney is playing not to lose, and Newt thinks he has nothing to lose."
Sure, Gingrich has his weaknesses and his dirty laundry: like his lack of discipline, no campaign infrastructure, his infidelities and three marriages, and the $1.6 million he took from Freddie Mac.
But when you get past all that, what you have is a more dangerous, talented and unpredictable rival than Romney.
Politico points to several reasons why team Obama should not take Gingrich for granted:
- For starters, Gingrich is smart. Very smart.
While Romney is no dummy, Gingrich knows his stuff. Gingrich has risen to the top of the Republican pack mostly based on his dominant debate performances. He has even offered to debate Obama, saying the president could use a teleprompter.
- Next, Gingrich fires up the base. He leads Romney when it comes to support from self-described conservatives. And Gingrich can reach out to the GOP’s wealthy donors while still taking swipes at Washington.
- Then there's Newt's mouth. Republicans love the way he attacks Obama. True, there's always the chance he'll go too far, come off as arrogant or self-destruct.
- Finally, Gingrich would be harder to target on Medicare or immigration, since his policies are more moderate than Romney's.
Here's my question to you: Should President Obama be more afraid of Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney?
Tune in to "The Situation Room" at 4 p.m. ET to see if Jack reads your answer on the air.
And we'd love to know where you're writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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