While a recent UMass Amherst poll showed President Biden's net approval rating at 44%, up 4 points from October, “The real issue is always the economy,” said Ray La Raja, professor of political science at UMass Amherst and associate director of the UMass Poll. “Is it going to stay on track? It's doing OK, inflation is coming down. What are we going to have? Are we going to fall into recession?” (WCTI [N. Car.] from The National Desk, 1/20/23;  News Office release) - More coverage on Boston.com, 1/27/23; The National Desk – picked up nationally including by NBC 24 [Toledo, Ohio], 1/29/23.