Just because the economy is doing well does not mean that your average Joe in Poughkeepsie is doing well. The wealth has been accumulated in a the hands of the ultra wealthy while Joe only sees his rent go up, his mortgage payments go up and the price of gas go up. Whenever that happens, people blame the president. Unfortunately, your average Joe doesn't understand that it's been 40 years of terrible economic policy that has led us to this point. Fortunately, things will probably get better as the year goes on. Most people spend about a week thinking about the election right before they fill in their ballot and if they are in a good mood, the vote the incumbent if not the challenger.