"While the midterm elections brought major political shifts on both the national and state levels, a new poll suggests the U.S. public doesn't see it that way."

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Poll: Public says midterm results won't change much
The results of the midterm elections did not change "the nation's psyche or their expectations," a Democratic pollster said.
By Frances Burns, November 20, 2014

While the midterm elections brought major political shifts on both the national and state levels, a new poll suggests the U.S. public doesn't see it that way.

About two-thirds of respondents to the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll said they believe the United States is heading in the wrong direction, and more than 75 percent said the election won't change that direction. While 41 percent were pleased the Republicans now have control of both the Senate and the House, 39 percent disagreed.

Fred Yang, a Democratic pollster at Hart Research who conducted the poll with Republicans at Public Opinion Strategies, said "it's almost like the election never happened."

"While this wave election has changed the composition of Congress and added Republican governors, it has not changed the nation's psyche or their expectations," Hart told NBC.

Just over half, 53 percent, were happy about the election results, and 40 percent had a negative reaction. There was more enthusiasm for the Republican victories in the 1994 and 2010 midterms.

While President Obama's approval rating remains low at 44 percent, respondents were somewhat more likely to believe he will try to work with Republicans in Congress than that they will work with him. Almost one third, 32 percent, say the results make it less likely Congress and the administration will cooperate, 26 percent say it is more likely, and 40 percent say the election made no difference.

The poll found 82 percent support action to lower the cost of student loans, 75 percent want more spending on infrastructure, and 65 percent would like an increase in the minimum wage. Almost half, 49 percent, support funding for the Keystone XL pipeline, and 59 percent back limits on carbon emissions. Only 41 percent back cuts in funding for the Affordable Care Act.

The poll surveyed 1,000 adults between Nov. 14 and Nov. 17. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points.
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