The
excitement among Americans for President Barack Obama's first
inauguration appears to have diminished as he begins his second term,
according to a new national survey.
And a
CNN/ORC International poll released Monday morning also indicates that
three out of every four Americans don't think the president's
inauguration ceremonies will help bring a divided nation together.
Four
years ago, nearly seven in 10 Americans questioned in a CNN survey said
they were thrilled or happy that Barack Obama was about to be
inaugurated. Now, according to CNN's latest poll, that number is down 18
points, to 50 percent.
Four
years ago, six in 10 saw Obama's inauguration as a celebration by all
Americans of democracy in action, with just 39 percent saying it was a
political celebration by the supporters of the winning candidate. Now,
the numbers are nearly reversed, with 62 percent saying the second
inauguration is a celebration by those backing the president, and 35
percent saying it's a celebration of democracy.
"The
thrill is gone, along with the hope that the start of a new
presidential term of office will bring a divided nation together," says
CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "In fact, Obama's second inaugural
is shaping up less like his first one and more like the second
inauguration of George W. Bush in 2005."
At
Bush's second inaugural, held in January 2005, three-quarters said the
ceremony would not heal the country's political divisions and 69 percent
said the inauguration would just be a political celebration.
The
50 percent who say in 2013 they are thrilled or happy that Obama will
be inaugurated is identical to the 50 percent who felt that way about
Bush in 2005.
Americans
do have higher expectations for Obama's inaugural address than for
Bush's second speech. But even on that measure, the public is not in the
same place it was in 2009. Four years ago, 85 percent expected an
excellent or good speech from Obama, with 65 percent feeling that way
now.
The
president's inauguration falls on the Martin Luther King Jr. federal
holiday. Obama's first inauguration created a major change in attitudes
toward race relations in the country that have remained stable
throughout Obama's first term.
Back
in 2008, only a third of all Americans said that the U.S. had achieved
the vision outlined in King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. In January
2009, that jumped to 49 percent, and has remained at that level ever
since.
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