America’s mood not all that optimistic

WASHINGTON — Chester Trahan’s grandchildren are working, so he’s feeling better about the economy these days. But his view of the country’s overall direction is pretty grim, darkened by what he sees as a surge in racism and violence fueled by President Donald Trump.

“He stimulated it. Those people were always there, but he gave them a voice,” said Trahan, a 78-year-old retiree from Palm Coast, Florida. He’s not about to give Trump credit even for the good stuff. “I don’t think he’s really done anything to help the economy out. It’s been doing pretty well for awhile.”

Trahan’s conflicted outlook of America under Trump — the economy is headed in a better direction than the country overall — is widely shared. A majority in a new poll, 52 percent, say they think the country’s direction has worsened over the past year, and only 28 percent are optimistic that things will get better in the year to come.

Trump’s base of support remains historically low but solid, with about about 35 percent of Americans saying they approve of how he is handling his job overall. Nearly two-thirds disapprove.

Yet 45 percent say they approve of Trump’s handling of the economy. That’s higher than the 34 percent who approve of how he’s handling foreign policy and the 37 percent who say the same of Trump’s handling of immigration.

Even among Democrats, just 8 percent of whom say they approve of how Trump is handling his job overall, 21 percent say they approve of his handling of the economy. Among Republicans, three-quarters approve overall while 82 percent back his performance on the economy.

Republicans stand far ahead of Democrats and independents in terms of optimism about how things are going in the country.

For example, 57 percent of Republicans but just a tenth of Democrats think the direction of the country will improve in the next year.