"Deteriorating Conditions"?

The President attended a town hall meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday to address the need for health care reform. But he opened his remarks with a staunch defense of his economic policies, which triggered the following exchange between White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and a reporter:

QUESTION: Robert, what prompted [the President's] opening remarks on the economy? Was it the improving conditions or his deteriorating poll numbers or --

ROBERT GIBBS: Or the deteriorating conditions...(laughter)......