

This May 28, 2013, file photo, shows a sign outside a Wal-mart store in Duarte, Calif. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

America is in the "crapper", according to a woman who was part of a recent focus group to gauge how so-called "Walmart moms" are feeling in the run-up to the midterm elections. Held in Charlotte and in New Orleans on Monday, the focus groups revealed women who are fed-up, afraid (of Ebola more than the Islamic State) and detached. They are almost numb to the news because "too much is going on." And, rather than follow it all like we political reporters do (and often think voters do too), these women have largely tuned out. At least one mom prefers to watch “Doc McStuffins” -- she's a Disney character who fixes broken toys in her playhouse clinic -- with her kids. (Editor's note: The Fix family loves some "Doc McStuffins".)

And speaking of fixing things (or not) , these women hate Congress. According to a memo from GOP pollster Neil Newhouse and Democratic pollster Margie Omero, who conducted the groups:

Moms view Members of Congress as having “all the power,” more focused on “bickering,” and frequently paid for by lobbyists. Others call Congress “a joke,” that plays politics as “a game.” And even if you “replaced all of them” or elected candidates “with good intentions,” moms fear the same pattern would hold. Senate control doesn’t seem to matter to these moms, although some in Louisiana wondered if Republicans would try to get something done to “prove themselves” if they took control.

But, even as they blame Congress, these women have very little information about who the party leaders actually are. Mitch McConnell? Never heard of him. Same with Harry Reid. Better news for Speaker of the House John Boehner, who "evokes some feeble recognition." Only Nancy Pelosi bubbles up on the name game list, with participants offering her name without a prompt, although they aren't sure exactly what she does.

President Obama doesn't rate much better and inspires little confidence, according to the focus groups. Women said they feel "betrayed" by him, and that he has "given up," and possibly "depressed". Write Newhouse and Omero: "Despite these views, he is not a big factor in most moms’ votes for the Senate, as more care about 'where the candidates stand on the issues' than about how they feel about Obama. Nonetheless, support for Obama is a salient hit on both Senators Hagan and Landrieu."

I reached out to Omero to ask her what wasn't covered in the memo that stood out to her from the focus groups. In an e-mail she said that moms felt that Hagan and Landrieu probably "get" moms more, since they are moms themselves. But, they aren't going to vote for them just because of that. "I'm all for girl power, but that's not why I would vote for her," said one. These women, so coveted this election -- especially by Democrats -- want most of all for politicians to know the day-to-day challenges they face, like "paying for kids’ classes, getting everyone fed, handling a husband’s job loss."

But even as these women talked about the very real challenges the country faces, there was a persistent feeling that their leaders aren't up to the task and ultimately, whoever wins in November, nothing will change. How the new Congress (and 2016 candidates) deals with these worries will be a big test.