More than a third of Mainers said the end to the recession is at least two years away, nearly three-quarters believed the government should increase its regulation of the insurance industry and more than half said they support TABOR II, according to a new poll by Portland-based Pan Atlantic SMS Group.

The Ombibus Poll surveyed 401 Mainers from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7. Some of its findings include:

• 37.4% said we won't see an end to the recession until 2012 or later, while 21.2% think the economy will start to recover in 2011 and 22.7% said it will begin its recovery during the second half of 2010.

• 51.1% said Maine is headed in the wrong direction, while 34.2% said the state is headed in the right direction.

• 48.6% said their job security has stayed the same in the past six months, an increase from 45% in April.

• 28.4% said their job situation has worsened in the past six months, a decrease from 35.8% in April.

• 35% said jobs and employment is the most important issue facing Maine, followed by health care (15.2%) and tax reform or relief (12.4%).

• 54.1% said they approve of how President Obama is handling the current economic situation, while 41.6% said they disapprove.

• 52.6% said the health care system in the United States is poor or very poor, while 18.7% said it is good or excellent.

• 46.4% said they are in favor of President Obama's health care reform plan, while 41.4% oppose his plan.

• 57.4% said they favor a public option, while 37.2% oppose a public option.

• 73.6% said they favor increased regulation of private health insurance companies, while 21.2% oppose increased regulation.

• 52.8% said if the election was today they would vote yes, or are leaning in that direction, in support of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, while 38.7% said are leaning towards voting against TABOR II.

View the full poll results >>