Gain to Believe In

Asked about a week before the start of the new administration, a little under half of Americans (47%) said that people like themselves would gain influence under President Obama. Roughly two-in-ten (18%) said people like themselves would lose influence, while 29% said they would not be affected. In January 2001, as George W. Bush took office, 35% felt like they would gain under the new president, and 26% said they would lose influence. While core Democratic groups said people like themselves would gain influence (79% of African Americans; 68% of liberals; 62% of those ages 18 to 29), pluralities of all whites and white evangelical Christians also felt they would gain influence under Obama. Read More