Gallup poll: 39 percent optimistic with Dems in control of House

Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Nearly four in in 10 Americans are optimistic about the direction of the country after Democrats gained control of the House in November's midterm elections, a new Gallup poll indicates.

The poll released Tuesday found that 39 percent of people in the United States believe the country will be better off after Democrats won control of the House, while 24 percent believe it will be worse off and 34 percent expected no difference.

Response to the election is summarized in a net-reaction score, difference between those expecting the country to be better off and those expecting it to be worse off. The net reaction following the midterm was +15, equal to when Republicans retook control of the House in 2010, but lower than when Republicans gained control of the House in 1994.

Optimism regarding the changes in Congress varied greatly along party lines as 78 percent of Democrats expected the country to be better off with the party taking control of the House, 20 percent expecting no effect and 1 percent expecting the country to be worse off.

Republicans were less optimistic, with 6 percent saying the country would be better off, while 56 percent expected things to be worse with Democrats in charge. Additionally, 36 percent said there would be no change.

The poll also found that Americans were nearly split down the middle on whether they would prefer Democrats or President Donald Trump and the Republican Party to wield the most influence over the nation.

Democrats were the overall favorite among 47 percent of all respondents, while 23 percent said they would prefer Trump and another 22 percent said they prefer Republican congressional leaders.

Trump was the top choice among Republicans at 50 percent, while independents favored Democrats at 45 percent and an overwhelming 95 percent of Democrats preferred their party to be in charge.

The survey was conducted based on telephone interviews of 1,499 adults, aged 18 and older in all 50 states and Washington D.C., from Nov. 13-18. Results of the poll feature a 3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.