First 2010 Election Exit Polls Show Economy is Driving Factor

It's the economy stupid. First exit polls released by ABC show the economy is the #1 concern for voters in 2010.

Eighty-eight percent of voters today say the national economy's in bad shape.

That is down four points from two years ago.

Only 14 percent of voters claim their financial status has improved over the last two years.

86% say the remain worried about the economies direction, and half those are very worried.

Of those polled, only 45 percent approve of the job Obama is doing. This is good news for Republicans.

The number of angry voters is up four percent from 1994, the last time Republicans took Congress from the Democrats.

Congress received a lower approval rating. Only 25% of those polled in exit polls approved of the job of Congress.

Here's an interesting number, voters aren't necessarily hopeful in the GOP.

43 percent of voters in these preliminary results express a favorable opinion of the in-power Democratic Party, vs. 53 percent who see it negatively. On the Republican Party, it's essentially the same – 41 percent favorable, 53 percent unfavorable.

The Tea Party effect:

41 percent of voters describe themselves as supporters of this movement; 21 percent, support it strongly. Thirty-one percent say they oppose the movement; the rest, 24 percent, are "neutral" about it.

On bigger government:

56 percent say government "is doing too many things better left to business and individuals," vs. 39 percent who say it "should do more to solve problems."

MOST IMPORTANTLY: The number of conservative voters in 2010 is up and is expected to meet 1994 levels.