In a vain attempt to justify President Obama's claim that "America is back," on Wednesday's NBC Nightly News, chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd excitedly announced to viewers: "In our newNBC/Wall Street Journal poll, improvement in three key categories seems to indicate the statistical green shoots about the economy is now actually penetrating the American psyche."

So what stunning reversal of public sentiment did the new poll reveal? Here it is: "The big number, of course, is whether the country is headed in the right direction. In December, it was 22%. Now it shot up seven [eight] points to 30%. That's a one-year high." The graphic on screen showed that 61% of Americans still believe the nation is headed in the wrong direction.

Todd further touted approval of Obama's handling of the economy now standing at 45%, with 50% disapproval, and those believing the economy would improve in the next year being at 37%, having "shot up" from 30%. He made sure to emphasize those number were also "one-year highs."

Introducing the supposedly "surprising" numbers, anchor Brian Williams declared they "couldn't come at a more critical time." Todd concluded the segment with some wishful thinking disguised as analysis: "Brian, as you know, if this shift in public opinion on the economy continues and it's coupled with actual improvement, that's the presidential game-changer that both the Republicans have to deal with."