I've long thought "It's the Economy, Stupid" was a bit overblown in 1992, but I think right now our political class is utterly failing to recognize the reality.
As Digby says, the professional left isn't causing problems for the administration and Democrats, the economy is. From what I've seen of campaigns, candidates are campaigning on positioning relative to symbols (Pelosi, HCR, tax cuts for rich!), instead of telling voters they're going to make their lives better. Tweaks around the edges, or plans to establish programs with tax credits to blah blah blah don't do it. The system is blinking red, and politicians are
failing to recognize that.