Decision 2012: Poll Details Tight Race Between President Obama and Romney

A new poll by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal shows the race between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney growing closer with Obama favored by 47 percent of voters and Romney favored by 43 percent. The president rates higher on foreign policy than the economy. The poll found that 63 percent of voters were not confident that their children's generation would be better off than they are.

Class discussion: Find news reports and analysis on the impact of the economy on elections. How have economic worries helped or hurt past presidential candidates? Is it the most important issue in most presidential campaigns? Check past polls. How long have Americans been worried that their children face a bleaker economic future? Do you believe you will be better or worse off than your parents? Why?