CBS News Poll: Americans Optimistic About Next Four Years

Whether they voted for him or not, Americans are optimistic about the next four years with Barack Obama as president, according to a new CBS News poll. Seventy-one percent of all Americans say they are optimistic about the next four years, including nearly half (48 percent) of all those who voted for John McCain. Just 17 percent of all Americans are pessimistic, including 40 percent of McCain voters.

Eighty-three percent of African-Americans are optimistic and 88 percent of Americans under the age of 30 are as well. While 88 percent of Democrats say they are optimistic, so do 51 percent of Republicans.

During the campaign, Americans expressed record levels of dismay about the state of the country and the economy, and dissatisfaction with the current Administration. However, the level of optimism Americans now express about the future matches the level they expressed before many other recent presidents took office.

About seven in 10 were also optimistic about Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton -- before their first terms began. Six in 10 were optimistic in December 2000 about George W. Bush, even after that election's 35-day post-election struggle.

More from the poll will be released tonight at 6:30pm ET on the CBS Evening News and in full on CBSNews.com.

This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 1,220 adults interviewed by telephone November 7-10, 2008. Respondents had been first interviewed October 30-November 3, 2008. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the total sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

[freedomscry]

The fact is, we know relatively very little about Obama.

[razrback44]

I HOPE we have learned from our past mistakes. One generation ago credit card debt/family was $600. Today, it is $7300. Not for essentials, but mainly for "stuff." No concern about savings. Big cars, big homes. The commercial "I want it all and I want it now" speaks volumes. Instant gratification. We complain now, but nobody was complaining a couple of years ago when their homes were appreciating 8%/yr and their portfolios were up 20%/yr. Did we really, really think it could all last? Apparently, yes. Econ 101 comes to mind.

Then, along comes the govt and tries to give everyone in America a house. Don''t worry about the mortgage. Good grief.

Enough preaching. I will be very optimistic if we can learn from our mistakes. But, old habits die hard. How many more bailouts will be necessary?

All we have to do is be a smart, thrifty society. Not a greedy one.

[nativewoman]

Our country will succeed with him or replace him and recover. I just HOPE its not too bad for us as we go through this. Moreover, I hope the press regains its senses and reports objectively so we can better steer our public course and discourse. ~ Posted by Machineguy at 05:58 PM : Nov 11, 2008

You hope things are not too bad?

Because things are so great under Bush?

Like the trillions already lost in 401k investments?

Like the 760,000 jobs lost in the first 9 months of 2008?

Like the record number of home foreclosures?

Like the nearly 50,000 of our youth dead or wounded in our current wars?

Like the 100,000+ Iraqi civilian deaths due to our invasion/occupation?

Like the billions of dollars spent on the war?

Good Heavens! How do you define good?

Regarding an objective media, that train left the station long ago and I don''t think it will be coming back around.

[thekoha]

I''m temporarily relieved of any stressors in wake of my near euphoric state after the election of this good, fine, talented and special man for the President of the United States of America. If one lacks an accurate (or honest) social/historical perspective onwo the painful growth of our still baby country then it would follow that you could not be caught up in the visceral spirit, watershed exorcism of shame, righteous indignation and spiritual agony and fatigue to be gloriously swept up in the historical significance and shining achievement of this man and our country at the most precarious moment since the Civil War. There is a minefield of troubles waiting on him but for a moment let us just rejoice in the "Audacity of Hope" and enjoy the fact that perhaps even in the face of major adversity a fundamental truth has emerged; that we are better than our past suggests and we have a shot at not only redemption but transcendence.

[thekoha]

I''m temporarily relieved of any stressors in wake of my near euphoric state after the election of this good, fine, talented and special man for the President of the United States of America. If one lacks an accurate (or honest) social/historical perspective onwo the painful growth of our still baby country then it would follow that you could not be caught up in the visceral spirit, watershed exorcism of shame, righteous indignation and spiritual agony and fatigue to be gloriously swept up in the historical significance and shining achievement of this man and our country at the most precarious moment since the Civil War. There is a minefield of troubles waiting on him but for a moment let us just rejoice in the "Audacity of Hope" and enjoy the fact that perhaps even in the face of major adversity a fundamental truth has emerged; that we are better than our past suggests and we have a shot at not only redemption but transcendence.

[velma179]

So, Americans have hope for the future. That is a good thing -- whether you voted for the incoming president or not. Some of us DO have optimism as well.
It''s not -- for me, anyway -- really all about the economy. I know that goes up and down and since I tend to be a personal responsibility advocate, I see the new administration taking us to the "up" track.

I am hopeful mostly because of the possibilities that always occur in changing gears (for all Americans).
I am optimistic because having an intelligent and pragmatic president is going to be an improvement regardless of what you choose to label his politics.

The American spirit is taking a breath of air and ready to step up to take on challenges and overcome problems.
That''s why I''m hopeful and optimistic.

Doom and gloomers... sorry for how you''re feeling, I wish I could convince you to join me!

[McHineguy]

My biggest fear is that we are losing the free press of America. Articles like this one juctoposed with continued false drivel about Palin speak of the kind of propagande we used to see in Russia. I don tcare who you like, or who you voted for. We need to see clearly and CBS news is becoming blind.

I believe Obama is bright, is a little too far left of "center" for the majority of us, and has made enormous promises to people, some he cant really trust.

Our country will succeed with him or replace him and recover. I just HOPE its not too bad for us as we go through this. Moreover, I hope the press regains its senses and reports objectively so we can better steer our public course and discourse.

[tangouniforn]

All,
Excuse the double post, I received no indication that the first post was received.

[tangouniforn]

dzemog1
A good post.
You left out the fact that Obama is very intelligent. We have seen what the lack of intelligence can do to a country. To make good decisions from a wide number of options, one must be able to evaluate each of those options.

[tangouniforn]

dzemog1
A good post.
You left out the fact that Obama is very intelligent. We have seen what the lack of intelligence can do to a country. To make good decisions from a wide number of options, one must be able to evaluate each of those options.