Poll: Fewer watch Obama's 2nd inauguration

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PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Fewer Americans watched the inauguration ceremonies for Barack Obama's second presidency than did his first swearing-in four years ago, Gallup said.

Thirty-eight percent of Americans said they watched or listened to the inauguration ceremonies live while 27 percent said saw, read or heard news coverage of the events, results of a Gallup poll released Tuesday indicated.

This year's percentage of viewers was down considerably from a combined 80 percent who watched the ceremonies live or saw news coverage of them in 2009, Gallup said.

Reported viewership of Monday's ceremonies was similar to George W. Bush's second inauguration, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.

Sixty-five percent of Americans who watched or saw news coverage of this year's ceremonies rated Obama's inaugural address as excellent or good, Gallup said.

Results indicated fewer Americans said the 2013 inauguration made them more hopeful about the next four years than those who expressed such sentiments in 2009. Thirty-seven percent said they were more hopeful about the next four years, compared with 62 percent after Obama's first inauguration.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 513 adults conducted Monday. The margin of error is 6 percentage points.