Poll: Dems and GOP can be bipartisan

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PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- A majority of Americans said they believe President Obama will make a bipartisan effort to solve the nation's problems, a Gallup poll released Monday indicated.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans, 65 percent, said they believe Obama will reach out to congressional Republicans while a majority, 57 percent, said they also expect congressional Democrats to try to work with the opposing party's leaders, results of the Gallup-USA Today poll indicated.

Less than half, 48 percent, said the same of the Republicans in Congress.

Results in the latest poll are similar to those in November 2010 after Republicans won control of the House, but down from 2008, when Obama won his first term as president, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.

Nearly two-thirds of Democrats also said the country would benefit most if party leaders would compromise to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff of tax rate expirations and automatic across-the-board spending cuts.

Results for poll are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,009 adults conducted Nov. 9-12. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.