For Brian Gerber of Wheeling, the economic anxiety afflicting a nation lumbering toward Election Day gained a very human face last week, and it was a familiar one. On Thursday, Gerber was laid off from his job as an automotive sales manager.
"It's tough out there," said Gerber, 44. "I'm married and I have a 4-year-old and my wife works. But things are tough.
"Everything keeps going up, but your wages aren't going up."