Two-thirds of registered voters who responded to a recent survey say the federal stimulus packages has not resulted in the improvement of the Western Illinois economy

The poll, commissioned by QuincyNews.org, was conducted by We Ask America on November 22 between 4:30 PM – 6:30. In all, 15,000 random residential phone numbers of registered voters in the 17th Congressional District were dialed, resulting in 1,278 people taking the poll. The numbers dialed were randomly selected.

The results have a margin of error of 2.74 %.

Of those who responded, 66.7 % say the stimulus package hasn’t improved the economy. Just under 22 percent said there had been an improvement while 11.5 percent were not sure.

The poll also showed a skepticism toward health care reform and also a dissatisfaction with the incumbent 17th District congressman, Democrat Phil Hare of Rock Island.

Pollster Gregg Durham said the data tells him a ‘throw the bums out’ mentality is emerging for 2010.

“This is happening in the rest of the country,” Durham said. “It’s a little stronger in Illinois…this dissatisfaction with politicians with one governor in prison and the last one impeached and in legal trouble. The meter is being pegged in this state.”

“What is very telling is the independents are very strongly against the incumbent. There is a tendency to look for something else. There is a dissatisfaction with an incumbent.

“While even the democrats said they really don’t see the impact of stimulus spending, the real surprise is that the independents broke most closely to the Republican view points,” said Gregg Durham, who conducted the poll.”There’s some programs that we call eyerollers. Health care reform is one of them.”

“The pendulum swings both ways. When you combine the major economic woes, plus the emotionally charged programs that are being discussed…health care, cap and trade, card check…there is a hastening of that pendulum swing and party affiliation doesn’t matter. ”

Durham said the frustration is mounting.

“People are becoming weary,” he said. “They are holding their hands up and asking how we’re going to pay for this, couple that with a bad economy and not enough jobs you have the potential for a quantum shift. ”

Click here to go to QuincyNews.org and read the polling information.