CBS Poll: Americans Optimistic About Obama

Seventy-Nine Percent Say They Are Optimistic About The Next Four Years

(CBS)  A new CBS News/New York Times poll finds that President-elect Barack Obama is the recipient of the highest levels of optimism and expectations of any modern president.

Seventy-nine percent of Americans say they are optimistic about the next four years, according to the poll. Only 16 percent say they are pessimistic.

As a comparison, between 64 and 70 percent of Americans said they were optimistic before the presidencies of Mr. Obama's five predecessors.

Expectations for Mr. Obama are exceptionally high overall. Sixty-eight percent think he will be a very good or a good president - higher than past expectations for both President Bush in 2001 (by 25 points), and for his father, President George H.W. Bush in 1989 (by 30 points).

Mr. Obama also enters the White House with the highest favorability ratings of any president in the last 30 years. Sixty percent view him favorably and only nine hold a negative opinion of him.

By comparison, 44 percent had a favorable view of Mr. Bush in 2001, and 30 percent had a not favorable view.

As for the country, more than eight in 10 think things in the U.S. are worse now than they were five years ago, but 61 percent think things will be better five years from now.

Seven in 10 Americans believe Mr. Obama will bring real change to the way things are done in Washington, a theme of his campaign. Nearly all Democrats and almost half of Republicans agree. Seventy-one percent of Americans approve of Mr. Obama's cabinet appointments.

When Americans are asked what worries them most about Mr. Obama being president, 12 percent cite his inexperience, the same percent are concerned about his safety, and five percent say he won’t be able to deliver on his campaign promises. Seven percent say nothing worries them about Mr. Obama being president.

Also, Joe Biden, elected to the Senate in 1972, prepares to assume the vice presidency with a 36 percent favorable rating, with a 13 percent not favorable rating. This rating is similar to that of incoming vice president Dick Cheney (37 percent) and Al Gore (36 percent), but higher than that of Dan Quayle (19 percent).

The Issues

Americans also express a lot of confidence that a President Obama will be able to deal with all the nation’s top problems - the economy, Iraq, the situation in the Mideast and the threat of terrorism. About seven in ten express confidence he’ll make the right decisions on each of these matters.

The economy is the top concern for Americans and it is the single most important thing they want Mr. Obama to address when he becomes president.

Confidence in Mr. Obama's ability to handle the economy has even gone up among registered voters since he was elected. Seventy-five percent were confident in October 2008 and 81 percent are today.

Improving the economy (40 percent) is followed by creating jobs (11 percent), the war in Iraq (10 percent), and the issue of health care (8 percent).

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Jan 17:
Optimism About OBama (.pdf)
Pessimism On Economy (.pdf)
Jan 16:
The Complete Final Bush Poll (.pdf)
Expectations Of Obama (.pdf)

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But when they look ahead four years, seventy-five percent of Americans expect the economy to get better over the course of Mr. Obama’s first term. Five percent said they think it will get worse, and 17 expect it to get worse.

Similarly, three-quarters of Americans expect jobs to be created. Most also expect a middle class tax-cut, which Mr. Obama made a central part of his 2008 campaign.

But Americans don't expect things to change overnight. Most think it will take two years or more, for the economy to turn around. They suspect progress on another pocketbook issue, health care, will take a lot longer. Most think that is at least four years off.

Although the economy overtook foreign policy concerns in 2008, another important Obama campaign promise was to end the Iraq war. And most Americans (61 percent) think the new Administration will make progress toward ending the war within two years.

If Mr. Obama does make progress ending the war, that would please the 73 percent of Americans who want to see troops decreased or removed from Iraq altogether.

Meanwhile, Mr. Obama has talked of increasing the number of troops in Afghanistan and 34 percent favor that. Another 28 percent would keep levels as they are.

Mr. Obama has also promised to close down the Guantanamo Bay detention center. More Americans (48 percent) are in favor of keeping it operational than of closing it (40 percent). However, though the number in support of closure has risen from 34 percent in the last two years.

These views divide on partisan lines, with Democrats more in favor of closing it.

On the issue of terrorism, Americans don't expect another terrorist attack soon -- just 34 percent think one is at least somewhat likely soon.

The number who feel an attack is very likely is now the lowest since this poll started asking the question in the fall of 2001, at just five percent.

Another possible change the Obama administration is contemplating is eliminating the so-called "Don’t ask don’t tell" policy pertaining to gays and lesbians in the military.

Unlike opinion early in President Bill Clinton's first term, today there is clear public support for allowing gays to serve. Today 67 percent favor it, nearly half do so strongly.

Both Republicans and Democrats favor allowing gays to serve. Most Americans of all age groups favor it, though the strongest support comes from those under age 45.

Moreover, most Americans, 62 percent, now think gays should be allowed to serve openly. This was not the case in 1993.

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This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,112 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone January 11-15, 2009. 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 entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

[ljrsue]

Hook Line and Sinker!
Way to go CBS; reporting that Rush Limbaugh wants Obama to fail was one of your best examples of misleading the Liberal party (conservatives watch The Evening News only to make fun of your biased reporting and recognize you false transparent story).
The way you left out the main point was very obvious to conservatives but you probably hit a homer with your shallow minded thinking?oops, I meant Progressive Elite liberal audience.
Please do a fallow up spot on this story tomorrow, I will tell a few dozen people to watch your show, which will double your viewing audience. You may want to also bring up the liberal Fairness Doctrine proposal during this follow up for a more liberal gleeful viewing!
Wow, your last blog was Jan. 18th, you sure do bring in the audience!

[berensc]

Let''s Start with Bush lies in 8 Years!!!!!!!!!! We in Europe are Happy, that this men is gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Den Haag is waiting for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shame he brought to the US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[noloyalisti]

Obama needs to roll back not only the disastrous acts of the Butch administration but to do it right he needs to roll back to the disastrous policies of Reagan.

We have gone so far into a fascist situation that it is going to take monumental support of all Americans to take back the country and it''s Constitution for the common good of the people.

We need to go back to the ultra-liberal principles of the New Deal and make sure we trash the failed conservative agenda for good.

[assemblyofso]

You think you can beleive a CBS News Poll. It is a random selection of 1,347 citizens most likely to agree with the socialist agenda of Obama and CBS.

[abbe91]

Can anybody tell me what the half white /half black Obama has Accomplished.

"Except working years with a terrorist. Going to a racist church for 20 years. And voting Present most of the time. And being part of the most corrupt political machine in America. Hey, I can spend a Trillion dollars of tax payers money, Make me President. HAHAHAHAHA.
Posted by qwerty2009 at 06:47 PM : Jan 18, 2009"

Red, red whine ...

[mihann]

We''ll see how optimistic the country is after a year of higher taxes, increased spending, and a loss of our freedoms. We love ya'', Mr. Lincoln, I mean Obama!

[wardoglrs]

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful." ~Seneca the Younger (c. 4BC - 65 AD) Roman Philosopher, Statesman,

All that the voters had to do was look at the voting record of these morons that keep getting elected as leaders.

Obama is "BUSH IN BLACK". Its another sad event in the USA. Obama was born from government hell and nothing short of Satan''s slave serving the Occult since 1776
Fleecing and plundering the people by way of Federal Reserve Banking "FRACTURED BANKING" and it''s deception of there rights and Liberties using religion and fear of war and the people drink the Obama Kool aid may never know the truth they have been deceived.

[ubrew12]

Nearl4511 said: "History is being made and all you got is this blog to spew forth your sour grapes."

Actually its kinda fun to read. Thirty years of neo-nazi propaganda biting the dust in a tidal wave of good ol'' American democracy, leaving TexHillGirl lighting metaphoric crosses in bewilderment at having been abandoned by the American people.

''Peaceful revolution'': what a great invention!

[nearl4511]

History is being made and all you got is this blog to spew forth your sour grapes.

Haw Haw. Suck it up.

[cydygitt1]

Am I the only person in the country that is sick of all this Obama stuff? I can hardly wait for 2012!!!

Posted by ken1dall at 05:09 PM : Jan 18, 2009

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No, you''re with the 12% MINORITY that hate America, and are already feeling nostalgic for another run by the inept mooseburger-eating palin.

Instead of being so pessimistic about Obama, why not give him a chance since the busheviks handed him a bill of goods -- 2 wars and an economic meltdown, including a $1.2 Trillion budget deficit.

[ken1dall]

Am I the only person in the country that is sick of all this Obama stuff? I can hardly wait for 2012!!!

[trillion1]

We voted for Obama and it had absolutly nothing to do with his race, dispite what blacks want to believe. He was just the better of the two canadates.

[chyenna-2009]

Why do the media and the Obamaphiles keep referring to President Obama as our first black president? Everywhere you look, 50% or his genetic makeup is announced as if he weren''''t bi-racial. I''''m sure his white ancestors would like to take pride in his accomplishments as well. It is the same way they refer to Tiger Woods. What gives, please explain? People will never get over prejudices and racism if they continue to describe people by their race first. Our President Barack Obama should stop this description of himself and be proud of both halves of his makeup.


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Posted by tdn52469 at 09:33 PM

I have been asking and saying the same thing and no one gives a real answer. Alot of smart azz answers, but no real answers.

[chyenna-2009]

We support our President. There is much hard work ahead. We pray for progress in tackling the problems facing us. May God bless this country and its people.


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Posted by CBS4me3 at 07:06

Best post so far.

[korak44-2009]

Repugs wish failure for the new president and our country so that the catastrophic failures of their messiah Bush will be forgotten. Repugs froth at the teeth in rage because Bush has been exposed to the all as an incompetent simpleton.

Why do repugs hate America?

[libra217]

CBS has always had inflated polls. OBama has done nothing to make anyone fell optimistic, frightened for our future would be more like it.

Posted by qwerty2009 at 02:28 PM : Jan 18, 2009

Possibly you are just upset that the overwhelming majority of Americans do NOT feel negative about Obama as you do ? You are one of the 9% who are wallowing in negativity. Sorry but that does not indicate that the polls are inflated.

[libra217]

Joe Biden ... "I''''m the guy who originally wrote the assault weapons ban," he bragged at a debate last year. The Remington Model 1100 was on of those weapons. They want to disarm the people.

Posted by mr02258 at 01:18 PM : Jan 18, 2009

Well, no -- only assault weapons, i.e., machine guns. Why exactly do you feel you need an assault weapon?

[cydygitt1]

79% of Americans are optimistic about Obama.
A lie , straight from the media.

Posted by mr02258 at 01:08 PM : Jan 18, 2009

Just because you didn''t hear this on *** NoNooz doesn''t make it a lie. Why do the repukes only care about the 2nd Amendment when ALL TEN of the Bill of Rights are EQUALLY IMPORTANT?

The republican''s have lost their way and their ideology simply stinks -- only a party for old white men at the country club -- and it is past time for the middle class to be supported by a president!

I''m so glad and proud of Americans that have finally gotten fed-up with the unmoral majority of religious rednecks that have helped the busheviks take our great nation right down the toilet and doubled our national debt in 8 short years through needless wars for OIL and idiotic borrow and spend policies.

The majority now have HOPE for CHANGE and a new direction for America.

[solarrays247-2009]

ok you politically aware people, just answer the question

where will palin be during the festivities and tuesday takeover

can''''t find a single report about her schedule

is she going to dc or is she going to stay in alaska?

i would love to know.
thanks

Posted by sickofpalin at 01:46 PM : Jan 18, 2009

Can''t say for sure, and don''t know if it is true, but I remember reading on CNN that she was not invited. Evidently there is still bad blood between the Palin and McCain factions. Again, I don''t know this for a fact.

[wtfwtfwtf1]

RE: "How profoundly sad that there are those who would rather see this new president fail than to see their country succeed."

Republicans = Guns, God & Military Glory!

That''s fine, but as a family man who loves his guns, loves his Jesus and loves his babies.... I need more than Guns and God... I need good healthcare for my family, I need good schools for my children, I need to be able to afford college for them, the list for social issues goes on... I wont bore y''all... but come on people, let''s stay focused. Get past partisan thinking.

We are all doing the same thing here on this planet...pursuing happiness. Let''s do this.... Let''s begin again... I''m willing