Americans optimistic about Obama's policies; Poll

Washington, Dec 21 (ANI): Most Americans are optimistic about the policies that Barack Obama will pursue when he becomes the country's 44th president next month, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

There is a widespread public desire that he quickly expand his focus beyond the economy, the dominant issue facing the country.

Obama and the Democratic leadership in Congress have indicated that the first legislation offered in the New Year will focus on the nation's flagging economy, an issue on which two-thirds of those polled said the new president and Congress should concentrate, the Washington Post reported.

Large majorities want Obama to pursue a wide range of issues besides the economy, including 84 percent who want him to drive an effort to require electricity companies to increase the use of renewable sources of energy.

A majority, 55 percent, wants him to tackle the issue right after taking office in January.

A majority wants Obama to make big changes to the country's health-care system, with 63 percent of Democrats and 52 percent of independents saying they want the changes right away.

Most Democrats and independents want Obama to carry through on his campaign pledge to pull out most U.S. combat forces from Iraq in his first 16 months, while most Republicans would prefer that he drop the idea.

Obama and the incoming Democratic Congress enjoy more support from Republicans nationwide for a moratorium on home foreclosures. The president-elect has been sharply critical of the Treasury Department for not using more federal resources to assist homeowners struggling to make payments.

Ten percent of homeowners polled said they had fallen behind on mortgage payments at some point in the past year, and more than a third of all participants voiced concern about their ability to make mortgage or rent payments.

A majority of Republicans (52 percent) and Democrats (55 percent) want Obama to act immediately to institute a period during which banks cannot foreclose on delinquent mortgages.

Nearly seven in 10 are optimistic about Obama's overall policies, including substantial percentages of Republicans and those who backed GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) in last month's election (45 and 39 percent, respectively). (ANI)