Even In New Hampshire, Big Spikes Seen In Child Poverty Rate

New Hampshire ranks last in the U.S. Census Bureau's state ranking of child poverty. But even there – and in at least two other states that are below the 18.3 national average – some alarming increases were seen between 2000 and 2006, when the rate rose by nine percent nationwide. The jump was 47 percent in New Hampshire, 45 percent in Delaware (which comes in at number 29 compared to other states), and 73 percent in Colorado (which is number 30 compared to other states).

A study by the Colorado Children's Campaign found minority children in that state were disproportionately affected, with the poverty rate rising 473 percent among American Indians and 116 percent among blacks, compared to a 57 percent increase among whites and a 10 percent decrease among Asians. [The study's authors found the data not helpful for separately counting Hispanics; the rate jumped 132 percent among the group identified racially as "other."]

"We have too many of our working class families who are actually slipping into low-income brackets and becoming families who are living in extreme poverty," says Colorado Children's Campaign president Megan Ferland, in a New York Times interview. The child poverty rate is worst in Washington D.C. (32.6 percent), Mississippi (29.5 percent), Louisiana (27.8 percent), New Mexico (25.6 percent) and West Virginia (25.2).

Economic worries continue to rank high in American minds, with 45 percent in a Gallup poll saying the U.S. is in a recession or depression, and one in four low income Americans saying the nation is in a depression. Sixty-nine percent of participants in another Gallup survey this year said they are "very dissatisfied" or "somewhat dissatisfied" with the nation's efforts to deal with poverty and homelessness. Sixty-five percent of participants in a November CNN/Opinion Research poll said the issues of poverty and homelessness will be "extremely important" or "very important" in determining their vote for president. Another 26 percent called the issues "moderately important" while 10 percent said they would be "not that important" in deciding their vote.

For more on poverty in America, check out our issue guide.