Poll finds little hope for DC compromise

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

This is one pessimistic country.

Most Americans harbor doubts that President Barack Obama and resurgent Republicans can work together to solve the nation’s problems, according to the latest Associated Press-GfK poll. In fact, many lack confidence that last week’s elections will change much of anything in Washington.

People are far more negative about the ultimate impact of the first big elections of Obama’s presidency — in which the GOP made huge gains across the country — than they were about the results two years ago when voters elected the Democrat and padded his party’s House and Senate majorities.

Hope?

It’s more like nope.

Just a week after the GOP benefited from change-craving voters looking to punish the party in power, Americans are much less optimistic that Republicans in Congress will be able to implement the policies they promised than they were about Obama’s making good on his campaign promises in 2008. And only about half expect that the GOP’s policies will improve the economy.

The economy is still by far the largest issue facing the country, with the unemployment rate stuck at 9.6 percent. And it tops the list of what both Obama and Republicans said they’ll focus on in the coming year.

Voters could punish everyone come 2012 — when Obama is up for re-election and when voters will render a verdict on Republican rule in the House — if they don’t see progress being made.

Among the survey’s findings:

Four in 10 people say the outcome of last week’s elections will be good for the country, while two in 10 say it will be bad. A third say the new reality — Republicans in control of the House, while Democrats narrowly control the Senate and run the White House — won’t make a difference.

Just a third are proud of the 2010 results, compared with six in 10 expressing pride after the 2008 presidential race.