BY THE NUMBERS:
A Washington Post-ABC News poll on the middle class finds:
4 in 10: The number of Americans who say they belong to the middle class
50 percent would vote for Obama
46 percent would vote for Romney
Of those struggling to remain in the middle class:
35 percent support Obama
58 percent support Romney
51 percent cite gas prices as a serious hardship
64 percent don't see the economy in their area improving
49 percent say jobs are difficult to find
75 percent disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy
53 percent say that's a major reason to oppose him in November
Of those who describe themselves as "comfortable":
59 percent support Obama
39 percent support Romney
17 percent see gas prices as a serious problem
37 percent say the economy isn't improving in their area
23 percent say jobs are very difficult to find.
40 percent disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy
57 percent trust Obama to protect the middle class