Two-thirds of those surveyed this week describe themselves as “angry” about the way things are going in the USA, the highest percentage in the decade the question has been asked. By nearly 2-1, they would rather vote for a candidate who has never served in Congress over one with experience.

“We’re just going to have to clean house and get people in who really care about the country,” says Stephen Besz, 63, of Hokendauqua, Penn., who was among those called in the poll. He worries about the future for his son, an electrical engineer who has been looking for a job for 18 months…

The findings are sobering for incumbents who hope an improving economy will ameliorate the throw-the-bums-out sentiment before November. Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, says “confidence is picking up” among voters, but he acknowledges, “Democrats have an uphill battle.”