As any campaign consultant will tell you, it's hard for an incumbent president to win a second term when the unemployment rate is high. Broad economic growth, consumer confidence, inflation and industrial activity are also useful indicators. "These little pieces — little data points — don't matter a whole lot, but collectively they tell a story about the 'big E' — the economy," said Christopher Wlezien, a professor of political science at Temple. Wlezien said voters form their opinions on the economy over a long time period, but cautioned that it would be a mistake to think the four months remaining before Election Day won't matter.