The mood of the country was as low as possible a little more than a year ago, just before Barack Obama was elected president. By April 2009, however, three months after he took office, the number of people who felt the country was headed in the right direction actually equaled those who felt it was on the wrong track. Since then, though, that number has been moving back in a negative direction, as a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey finds.

According to the poll, 34% say the country is headed in the right direction and 54% say it's on the wrong track. The poll shows voters may take out their frustration in the midterm elections, as they are split evenly at 41% between wanting a GOP- or Dem-controlled Congress -- the first time Republicans have tied the Dems since Dec. 2003. And for the fourth survey in a row since September, 49% say they would prefer a new person represent them in Congress.

For the second month in a row, Obama's job approval rating is below 50% -- 48% approve, 43% disapprove. Fewer approve of the way he's handling the economy (43%) and health care (38%), while more (50%) approve of his handling of foreign policy.

Obama now has a 49.3% RCP Average job approval rating.

Just 33% say "Obama's health care plan" is a good idea, while 46% say it's a bad idea. That's mostly unchanged from last month.

The public's approval of Congress continues to decline -- it's now 21% after peaking at 31% in February 2009, the highest it had been in nearly two years. On health care, 26% approve of the way Republicans in Congress are handling the issue.

Both parties continue to be viewed unfavorably -- 38% hold a positive view of Democrats, 30% view Republicans positively. Obama's positive rating remains below 40% for the second month in a row.

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