Poll: Obama most likely to help poor

PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Americans said U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is most likely to help minorities and the poor but least likely to keep taxes down, a poll indicates.

A Gallup Poll released Wednesday found that when asked about 16 possible goals for the Obama administration and how likely it was the goals could be accomplished, majorities indicated they thought Obama would be able to accomplish 13 of them, with helping the poor and minorities highest among them.

A majority of respondents also said Obama would be able to raise the United States' respect abroad. Most also responded affirmatively when asked if they thought Obama would be able to affect an economic recovery and be successful in reducing unemployment, said Gallup.

The three areas where majorities doubted Obama would be successful were controlling illegal immigration, keeping taxes down and reducing the federal budget deficit.

Gallup said the results were based on interviews with 1,010 U.S. adults between Nov. 7-9. The poll carried an error margin of 3 percentage points.