Patient US Has Faith in Obama: Poll

Americans are vastly unhappy about the current state of the union—but have widespread faith in Barack Obama to nurse the nation back to health, according to the latest polls. Of those surveyed, 79% of Americans are optimistic about Obama's tenure, a higher figure than findings for the past five presidents, according to a New York Times/CBS poll.  A Washington Post/ABC poll finds 61% have “a great deal” or “a good amount” of confidence Obama can fix things.

But while hopes are high, Americans aren't expecting overnight solutions from the President-elect, the Times notes. Respondents didn’t foresee much progress on issues like the economy and health care for at least two years. Meanwhile, President Bush is heading out with a record-low 22% of the country looking favorably on him, the Times/CBS poll found. The Post/ABC poll found almost 80% believe the country is headed “off track.”
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