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.
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.
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See all 33 CommentsThen, 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.
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.
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!
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.
Excuse the double post, I received no indication that the first post was received.
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.
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.
Why? I think it is because OB is still seen as a complete mystery and we are not really sure which direction he will move. I know what he says, but what will he be allowed to do.
Right now he could have a huge calming affect on the financial markets. Just simply say, "I will not raise any taxes during my first term." However, we know Pelosi and Reid would have his head. So, we remain very nervous and "hope" for the best. Optimistic, I don''t think so. Just the way it is.
Economics will always rule the day.Got you elected.
I do not wish you bad. Just seems like a lot of promises have been made which a great deal of this optimism has been based. Your very big job is not to let it turn to despair.
Posted by renrivers at 04:48 PM : Nov 11, 2008
So YOU think American''s went out and voted for this young man because? You think American''s with stood Mud Slinging and Fear like not other election to put this Young Intelligent Man into office because? I don''t know what you people are selling but ANY fool could see we were headed in the WRONG direction. The ONLY question to most is will Obama change the direction of this nation. IF he does, MOST American''s feel they can do the rest!
Posted by LibH8er at 05:15 PM : Nov 11, 2008
Hey Sparky, you don''t need a poll to tell you how upbeat American''s are right now. GO OUT, walk around a little!! I have NEVER seen this kind of excitement in my 60 years on this planet. This bright young American and his family MAKE you feel good about us as a people.
Oh well.
The REST of us are optimistic. LOL!
75.7% of Americans feel their personal financial situation will stay thesame or be better in the next six months. 32.2 % remain happy "with the waythings are going in their personal lives" and 50.5% say there are both gooddays and bad days. Only 17.3% say they are unhappy.
When it comes to how Americans perceive the new presidentialadministration, 35.1% say it is a "watershed event" capable of inspiringthe beginning of an economic recovery; 36.2% say it''s not. 43.6% say theirtaxes will increase while 47.4% think grocery prices will go up.
Does that really sounds like optimism? What in the world, was I thinking.
Right.
I''ll count my blessings when I see them.
Posted by FreeFla at 04:10 PM
Spoken like a true traitor and terrorist. Why do you hate America so much?
Let me offer this opinion. Waxman continues his Dog/Pony show in DC this week. He will be talking to the largest hedge fund mgrs. Soros, don''t worry. You will get a pass. My question concerns Fannie/Freddie, the very largest of the hedge funds, which the DEMs still refuse to have regulated. I maintain when the truth comes out (if ever), Fan/Fred will be as guilty as sin for trying their social engineering scheme. They are the main reason for this meltdown and still NO regulation. Why? McCain was labeled the Great Non-Regulator. He voted to regulate Fan/Fred when there was no mystery this outfit was leading us to disaster. Came true.
Are we interested in the whole truth or more smoke and mirrors? How many folks will simply get a pass? Same old bs politics.
But hey nut cases all Obama has to do to shine is just do a little better than the Bush administration and you can kiss 2012 good bye and if he does a little better than you can kiss 2016 good bye. What you think we will forget the last 14 years of Republican nonsense.
Oh boy religious right wing neo con nuts are dumber than dirt.
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