Blue Outlook Turns Gray: Democrats’ Optimism Plummets

A new AP-NORC poll finds just one-third of Democrats are optimistic about their party's future — down from six in 10 last July. Only 33% of Democrats say they're very or somewhat optimistic — a collapse driven by frustration that leaders aren't pushing back hard enough on Trump's agenda. Meanwhile, Republicans' optimism is on the rise. Fifty-five percent of GOP voters feel good about their party's direction — up from 47% a year ago. But neither party enjoys widespread love. Only 40% of Americans view the GOP favorably, and just one-third feel that way about Democrats. Among Democrats, only 30% have a positive view of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 21% back Chuck Schumer, and Bernie Sanders leads with 40% approval. With gerrymandering and the Electoral College leaving 55% of Democrats doubting the system, the question is clear: Will the party find its next unifying leader in time, or will pessimism prevail? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.