Only about four-in-ten U.S. adults now say they are better off today than they were five years ago — the most downbeat assessment of personal progress in more than four decades of polling on this question.

The vast majority of self-identified middle class workers (89% overall) are either completely or mostly satisfied with their job.

By a margin of 69-28, Americans agree that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

Fully 58% of Obama backers say they support Obama strongly; by comparison 39% of McCain’s backers describe themselves as strong supporters.