Poll: Optimism over stimulus fading

WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- The quick rise in optimism about the state of the nation following the 2008 election has ebbed, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll indicates.

The poll found that only 52 percent of respondents now say they believe U.S. President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus measure will succeed in boosting the economy, the newspaper reported Tuesday. That compares with 59 percent who thought so two months ago.

The poll indicated the biggest falloff in confidence has happened in the Midwest, where less than half view the government spending as succeeding compared with 60 percent who thought it would in April.

Even with the reduction in optimism about the stimulus measures, Obama's popularity has remained essentially unchanged with a 65 percent approval rating, which is higher than those of former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush at similar points in their administrations, the Post said.