Americans Optimistic on Race Since Obama: Poll

More Americans say race relations are looking good since the election of Barack Obama, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll. Among 973 adults surveyed last week, two-thirds said race relations were good and the number of blacks in agreement doubled since last summer. Despite resignation over the economy and the Iraq war—fronts most Americans say are slow-moving—72% expressed optimism about the next 4 years.

Most Americans support Obama on a range of issues, including his view that hearings on interrogation tactics in the Bush administration are unnecessary. On the downside, only 48% said Obama had made headway changing business-as-usual in Washington. And only 39% said he had come through on middle-class tax cuts, although the stimulus bill he signed includes them.
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