Independents Sway: Majority Say USA’s Best Days Ahead

Eric Scheiner | July 3, 2018
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Just before the Independence Day holiday, Gallup is releasing a new poll showing the majority of Americans believe the best days for the country are ahead. 

One of the major reasons for the poll results, are those that identify as independents.

According to Gallup:

Fifty-five percent of U.S. adults believe the United States' best days are "ahead of us," while 41% say they are "behind us." Americans are more optimistic about the country's future than they were the last time Gallup polled on the question, in December 2012, when Americans were nearly evenly split in their views.

The latest data, collected in a June 18-24 Gallup poll, come as satisfaction with the direction of the U.S. has reached a 12-year high, with 38% of Americans saying they are satisfied with the way things are going in the country. U.S. adults are also noticing the effects of a robust job market, with about two in three saying it is a good time to find a quality job. By comparison, 23% were satisfied with the direction of the country in December 2012, and 19% said it was a good time to find a job.

The graphic from Gallup below shows that 69% of Republicans feel the best days are ahead while 27% of Republicans say they are behind us, numbers that are very similar to what Democrats said in 2012 (69% ahead of us - 28% behind us).

graph

The big change over the years is with those that identify as independents currently. 54% of independents say the best days are in the future. In 2012 the story was very different with 55% of independents saying the best days were behind us.

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