2012: Optimistic or pessimistic?
When we asked Americans whether they are optimistic or pessimistic about the year ahead, optimism topped pessimism by a 52%-33% margin.
Democrats and younger people were more optimistic than older people, independents, and Republicans.
Sixty-three percent of 18-29 year olds say they’re optimistic about 2012. That optimism was shared by 49% of 65+ year olds and 50% of 45-64 year olds.
Along partisan lines, 67% of Democrats say they are optimistic about 2012 – a view shared by only 42% of independents and 49% of Republicans. Those pessimistic: 42% of independents, 38% of Republicans, and 19% of Democrats.
Poll Position’s scientific telephone survey of 1,133 registered voters nationwide was conducted December 15, 2011 and has a margin of error of ±3%. Poll results are weighted to be a representative sampling of all American adults.
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The online companion poll in which you can vote provides unscientific results, meaning it’s a tally of participating Poll Position users, not a nationally representative sampling.
Poll Position is committed to transparency and upholding the highest professional standards in its polling, explaining why we provide you with the crosstabs of our scientific polls. Crosstabs provide a breakdown of survey participants by age, race, gender, and political affiliation. Here are the crosstabs for this poll: Poll Position crosstabs – 2012 optimism.
You can learn more about our polling methodology here.
