Eighteen percent of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., staying below 20% as it has since March. Americans are slightly more satisfied than last summer when gas prices and inflation were soaring. …

The 18% of Americans who are satisfied with the state of the nation today is about half of the 35% historical average. Gallup has measured national satisfaction since 1979. The lowest reading was 7% in October 2008 during the height of the financial crisis. The high point was 71% in February 1999 during the dot-com boom and after the Senate acquitted President Bill Clinton in his impeachment trial.

Currently, 33% of Democrats, 18% of independents and 4% of Republicans are satisfied.

[Only a third of Democrats are satisfied? That certainly augurs poorly for Joe Biden and his re-election bid next year. Equally bad: 19% of respondents say “government” is the most important problem facing the country, followed by the economy and immigration, tied at 13%. The nearest issue that *might* play in Biden’s favor is “guns/gun control,” chosen by a whopping 5% as the most important problem. If Republicans nominate someone who can provide a fresh contrast to Biden, he’s toast. — Ed]