The Hill News

The economy is in a better position now than it was when President Obama took office, Democrats argued Tuesday.

The White House and a top congressional leader made the case that the economy had improved under Democratic control of government, as polls showed voters as less convinced.

"I think by virtually any measure, our economy is a better place than it was two years ago," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at his daily briefing.

The assertion by top Democrats comes as new polls showed confidence in Democrats to handle the economy, versus confidence in Republicans, slipping.

46 percent of U.S. adults said they trust Republicans to handle the economy, compared to 43 percent who trust Democrats, according to a CNN/Opinion research poll released Tuesday. ! That's a reversal from just a year ago, when Americans trusted Democrats, 53-39 percent, over Republicans to handle the economy.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the chairman of House Democrats' campaign committee, said that while the economy was fragile, it was still improved.

"We're a lot better off than we were 18 months ago, but we're not where we want to be," he said this morning during an appearance on CNN.

The argument over whether Democrats' stewardship of the economy is at the crux of this fall's elections, and whether Republicans will make the inroads necessary to win back the House and, possibly, the Senate.

Republicans have repeatedly argued that the Obama administration's $787 stimulus has been a failure, a point underscored by dismal economic reports that continue to flow.

"I think the American people are not concerned about the president's poll numbers. I think the American people are concerned about whe! ther or not they have a job, how they're going to pay their bi! lls, the future of their children," Gibbs said. "I think that's what the American people are concerned about, and that's the task that the president will spend every day worrying about."