Poorer, Less Optimistic US Middle Class Believes Neither Party Has Their Back, Rooting For Obama

By Eleazar David Meléndez | August 24 2012 5:50 AM

Photo: PEW

A report on the state on the American middle class by the Pew Research Center calls the past decade "lost" for that socioeconomic group: wealth, income and security are all down.

A report on the state of the American middle class by the Pew Research Center calls the past decade "lost" for that socioeconomic group: Wealth, income and security are all down.

Photo: Pew

In an interesting finding, the report's survey found most in the middle class blamed the Bush administration and Congress more than the Obama administration for their current plight.

Photo: Pew

In an interesting finding, the report's survey found most in the middle class blamed the Bush administration and Congress more than the Obama administration for their current plight.

Photo: Pew

The middle class seems to have plenty to complain about. Their income's share as part of the nation's total sum has been steadily declining as the rich have become richer.

Photo: Pew

Although in absolute terms the poor have been worst off.

Photo: Pew

The numbers speak for themselves.

Photo: Pew

The shift has made many in the middle class feel that they are worse off now than they were a few years ago.

Photo: Pew

The share of Americans who even consider themselves middle class has grown smaller.

Photo: Pew

And many now see less hope for future generations.

Photo: Pew

That has led to a change in fundamental attitudes.

Photo: Pew

Views are generally that things are getting worse.

Photo: Pew

Although, of course, views vary from individual to individual.

Photo: Pew

Politically, all this information is significant. The largest slice of people identifying themselves as middle class also call themselves "independents."

Photo: Pew

And they are leaning blue so far.

The faithful within both the Republican and Democratic folds claim their chosen party leaders are champions of the American middle class. But the majority of independents who form the largest slice of that vast demographic overwhelmingly aren't buying it, pegging the Republicans as the party of the wealthy while also believing that Democratic policies somewhat tend to favor the poor.

That finding is among the most interesting in a new study by the Pew Research Center, which looks at the decline in income, wealth and optimism for Americans identifying as middle class. The report begins with the finding that fewer and fewer Americans even consider themselves to be in that socioeconomic group.

Since this is a presidential election year, some of the political findings are among the most salient. Click 'Start' to see some of the most interesting nuggets from the report.