Gallup finds confidence in local officials steady

Americans are very unhappy with Congress, and to a lesser degree with President Obama, but have much more confidence in their local and state officials' ability to handle local and state problems, according to the latest Gallup Poll, conducted Sept. 8-11.

"Trust and confidence in local government has hovered around 70 percent for the past decade, and the recent gridlock at the federal level has done little to sully local impressions of government," writes Tim Mak of Politico. "In fact, 68 percent of respondents to a new Gallup poll on Monday said they had a 'fair' or 'great' deal of trust and confidence in their local governments." State officials scored 57 percent, the federal executive branch 47 percent and Congress 31 percent. (Read more)