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Americans hopeful about Obama, poll says

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor November 10, 2008 04:10 PM

Americans are giving high marks to Barack Obama's performance as president-elect, and are hopeful for his administration, a new poll suggests.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released this afternoon found that 64 percent have a positive view of what he has done since the election and that 75 percent believe he will do a very good or fairly good job as president.

Black respondents were significantly more optimistic, with 90 percent having a positive view of Obama's actions and 85 percent saying they believe he will do a "very good" job in office.

But despite focusing on the issue during the latter part of the campaign and since the election, only 40 percent of respondents said they had a "clear idea" of his plans to improve the economy, while 60 percent said they didn't.

While there's hope about Obama, he faces deep pessimism about the country.

The same poll found that only 16 percent of respondents say things are going well, while 83 percent say things are going badly. Both are records in CNN surveys.

"The challenge Obama faces has never been greater. No president has ever come to office during a time when the public's mood has been this low. In the 34 years that this question has been asked, the number who say things are going well has never fallen below 20 percent," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland told his network.

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"Americans are giving high marks to Barack Obama's performance as president-elect..."

I just don't get it. HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING - how they give "high marks" to his performance?

My God - the Kool-Aid drinking continues.

Posted by Linda November 10, 08 04:16 PM
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Obama is a joke....we're screwed.

Posted by Kevin P November 10, 08 04:21 PM
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I have never been so hopeful for a positive change as I am with Obama. Hopefully, the country will get behind him and give him support.
I voted for Hillary in the primary election, and could have lived with McCain. However, Palin really scared me, as she is so "off the wall", and so demeaning for women. She is very cute and would be good at rallying support for a bake sale at the PTA, but would be an embarrassment to our country.

Posted by Rich November 10, 08 04:43 PM
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Maybe the Office of the President-Elect and change.gov give an impression that Obama has any level of power right now.

Unfortunately these are the same uninformed voters who checked off Obama's name last week. God save us all.

Posted by Max November 10, 08 04:53 PM
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I think Obama is the best we have had since JFK
My only fear is that he will be assassinated before he completes his term(s)
This is primarily due to the spew of hate from the Neo Cons like Rush ( draft dodging, pill popping, womanizer) Limbaugh, Howie (if you don't agree with me, I'll cut you off ) Carr & others

Posted by bill November 10, 08 04:56 PM
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Nothing like a perpetually optimistic Republican (# 2) to warm the cockels of one's heart.

Posted by icanseefoxborofrommy window November 10, 08 04:59 PM
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Linda and Kevin P
Yeah, 4 more years of failed Bush policies would be MUCH better... Go back to the caves you idiots crawled out of since it's obvious that's where you both have been living there for the last 8 years, Kool-Aid tastes mighty good compared to the wretch we've been drinking with W in charge.

Posted by sj November 10, 08 04:59 PM
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Since 1980, I've voted in every election in which I've been eligible (I mean from local to state to national elections) and I am more optimistic than I've ever been and mainly for one reason.

Due to the dire situation we're in now, the politicians are actually ahead of where the people are, instead of the other way around. But, the difference is unlike the easy solutions you'll see, and hear, touted in the blog-o-sphere talk-radio world, our elected officials, know that the actual fix for the war(s), health care, environmental, energy, and infrastructure problems requires OUR continued support and time, lots of time.

It's going to take time fix this mess and no one is going to love everything that is attempted, but can we please temper any phony outrage. Finally, it's not just one guy, ease up. He's going to rely on a solid team around him.

Posted by renaldoyclara November 10, 08 06:02 PM
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amen and amen...the honest truth in all of this is that we (the little people) have suffered the brunt of years upon years of horribly managed economics, war (how LONG have we been at this?) and constant inflation with no respite...it seems that we shouldn't start this off by despising PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA...any more than we did Clinton upon his entrance to the admin. While it certainly matters that the man is black (as my kool-aid dissing friend there makes clear) the truth is he represents much more regarding the potential for change in our country...it really just doesn't make sense to support ANYONE who is standing by the system of government we've been most recently subjected to...and please...must we really be so small minded? (back to the kool aid thing...sorry, lol.) As for PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA being a joke, well...you should get a gander at the current president's approval ratings... none has made me laugh harder than ol' curious George...curious indeed

Posted by Natural November 10, 08 06:49 PM
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wow, Americans are so easily fooled. This man has nothing to offer. I hope things get better, but im not counting on it. Now that we have Obama, im definently not expecting the best. NObama, thats all i have to say.

Posted by df November 10, 08 07:17 PM
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"high marks" for doing absolutely nothing...this is becoming (maybe already is) a joke!

Posted by eddie November 10, 08 07:29 PM
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To eddie and all those naysayers, I rather have a Joke for 4 years than a tragedy of president for 8.

Posted by JJJ November 10, 08 10:03 PM
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Two wars, a shattered economy, real wages down, cost of living up, crappy Healthcare, a constitution forgotten when expedient.

If Obama's is guilty of anything, it's giving Americans a reason to be proud and be hopeful yet again. After all, he's the quintessential rags to riches story that Republicans like to hold in high regard, but stomp down whenever they get the chance. To the GOP, have fun in the wilderness. To conservatives looking to rebuild their party, there's a seat at the table for you to help bipartisanship-ly fix America.

Posted by Ryan November 10, 08 11:33 PM
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Yeah, I'm hopeful that he's a one-term president who can accomplish NOTHING on his agenda. Obama is nothing more than a Socialist in disguise. He advocates for nationalizing health care, banks, and now the auto industry. He has naively called for negotiations with terorr groups. He has, in the past, associated with a close pastor who openly denounces the United States of America! The greatest nation on earth, with the most freedoms, the most opportunities, know anywhere, anytime. Why are millions of people flocking to our borders? Freedom and opportunity. Obama's policies will crush both of these most precious gifts we have. Don't support Obama in any political move he makes, unless it is to remove the yoke of tyranny

Posted by hobartstinson November 11, 08 02:33 AM
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To #7 - Oh sj - you *so* need to go back to class and read your history. You can't put all of the blame on the Bush administration for the financial mess we're in.

How quickly they forget! President Carter signed into law the Community Investment Act (CRA) in 1977 and in 1995, President Clinton made changes to the CRA that loosened credit standards even further and forced banks to make risky loans or face penalties. FORCED banks to make risky loans! So please - it isn't all Bush's fault - he inherited a mess to begin with.

Posted by Linda November 11, 08 12:36 PM
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01/20/2013 - Obama's last day in office.

Posted by tony November 12, 08 07:56 AM
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Mmmm...the cool-aid tastes Gooood! Keep drinking from the ABC/NBC/CBS/MSNBC/NYT and you will believe. GWB is the Devil! Change and HOPE is coming!

Posted by justaplumber November 12, 08 09:39 AM
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We have a minority of bitter right wing naysayers here who demonize Obama and pray that he fails, the same ones who cheered as Bush drove us off the cliff. But many Americans did not take him seriously until the election which is why his popularity is rising. Now that they can already see the steady hand and collaborative, centrist vision he has, a desire to build a team of the best and brightest among rivals, along with a rare ability to inspire at home and abroard, a majority realize that he has the potential to be the greatest President we've seen in a long time. And of course it is Bush's faut. The man divided this country and led an arrogant foreign policy ss well as domstic policy despite questionable wins, and despite promises not to do so, and chose neo-cons, not the best and brightest.

Posted by Ed S November 21, 08 08:40 PM
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"He hasn't done anything", so we're not supposed to be hopeful about his presidency - but you can make the opposite assumption. Thank you, Linda, for at least not prefacing your remark with "I'm not prejudiced, but..."

Posted by Carlos November 24, 08 01:11 PM
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