In 1992, Bill Clinton rode the question all the way to the White House, "Are you better off than four years ago?"

But what the results to a similar question will mean in 2008 is anyone's guess.

The latest St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9/Miami Herald poll shows 43 percent of Florida voters say their personal economic situation is worse than it was two years ago. However, the same percent say their situation is about the same.

The statewide telephone poll of 800 registered Florida voters was conducted Sunday through Wednesday this week, with a margin of error of 3.5 percent.

Voters were more optimistic when asked what they expect of their personal economic situation in the next year: 46 percent said they expect it to stay about the same, 35 percent said it will get better. Just 14 percent expected it to get worse.

Tune into this weekend's newspapers to see more poll results. In Saturday's Times,
we'll have results on statewide issues, including Gov. Charlie Crist's
approval rating and what voters think about the proposed amendment to
ban gay marriage in the state Constitution.

In Sunday's Times, look for poll results on the presidential
race, including the matchup between John McCain and Barack Obama, and
what voters think about Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin.

Times editor

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