Taking the public’s pulse on brink of midterm elections

The 2014 midterm elections are now just four days away. We know that the outcome of the elections often reflect the level of satisfaction Americans have with the way things are going in the U.S.

We check in with Frank Newport, editor on chief of the Gallup Poll, to hear how Americans feel about current events.

Regardless of who wins control of the House and the Senate, and who wins various governorships, there are fundamental questions about what the people want their elected representatives to do.

Where does President Barack Obama stand in the public’s opinion at this point, and how does he stack up against other presidents before previous midterm elections?

Some news headlines have touched on Democrats’ losing support among women — the Boston Herald said, “Gender gap closing among 2014 voters,” The Wall Street Journal said, “GOP Gains in Key Senate Races as Gender Gap Narrows,” and USA Today said, “Women not flocking to Democrats in key Senate races.” But at the national level, there is little indication that the gender gap in politics is closing.