host: some final thoughts from ellis isenstadt -- alex isenstadt.democrats. host: when did you hear in the phone call, john kornacki? guest: frustration. people want to know if things are going to get better or worse. right now people do not see things getting better. i do not think they embrace either party particularly, but what is clear is what is being offered to people is not sufficient. rhetoric alone is insufficient. they need results. i see in very strong anti- incumbent move coming across the board. host: thank you for joining us this morning. we will be back to take a look at china and the global economy with a financial reporter from the "washington post" steven mufson. >> in the fcc has a scholar in residence to offer a philosophical 0.2 issues. stuart benjamin on first amendment issues and use of the digital spectrum. >> "in depth" welcomes paul johnson, former adviser to margaret thatcher. and join our three-hour conversation with paula johnson sunday, noon eastern. watch "washington journal" daily from 7:00 to 10:00 eastern. covering

host: some final thoughts from ellis isenstadt -- alex isenstadt.est: for democrats, the question is how you can show that you are taking steps to improve the economy. that is the key for democrats. as you point out, there are all these complex issues that you have to address. you have this small business person, other people hurting economically. how do you show them that you are addressing their concerns? that is the challenge for democrats. host: when did you hear in the phone call, john kornacki? guest: frustration. people want to know if things are going to get better or worse. right now people do not see things getting better. i do not think they embrace either party particularly, but what is clear is what is being offered to people is not sufficient. rhetoric alone is insufficient. they need results. i see in very strong anti- incumbent move coming across the board. >> tomorrow morning, rick maze picture questions on the budget and the don't ask don't tell policy. then

john kornacki and alex isenstadt. caller: good morning, gentlemen.from that movement by having the opposition votes shoved off through the independencts? nixon, 1968, george wallace took away democratic votes from humphrey and richard nixon was reelected. i think that could be a repeat performance. guest: it ever good point. the answer is, independent voters affect the election. but overall conclusion is somewhat mixed. you are right about 1968, but remember 1972. ross perot was in that election and the incumbent president was george w. bush -- a lot believe that that tilt the back to george clinton -- bill clinton. host: the role of ross perot. guest: we have not seen a ross perot figure emerge into many different cycles -- to many races where independent voters can't throw their boats off to an independent candidate. but you look at massachusetts governor race, state treasurer, cahill, he could divide the republican vote and give the election to democrat patrick. which is somewhat interesting given that democrats right now are those that perceived