Democrats' Dimmer View of Year Ahead % saying next year will be better than currentyear Re publican Democrat Independent
The more negative expectations for 2015 are driven in large part by a shift in views among Democrats. A month after the Republican Party gained full control of Congress, 60% of Democrats expect 2015 to be better than 2014. That is down 21 points from a year ago when 81% thought 2014 would be better than 2013.
Nonetheless, views among Democrats are brighter than those of Republicans: just 34% of Republicans expect the coming year to be better than the last, little changed from prospective views of 2014 (33% better). In December 2012, following Barack Obama’s reelection, just 22% of Republicans thought 2013 would be a better year than 2012.
Democrats' Dimmer View of Year Ahead  | % saying next year will be better than currentyear  | Re publican  | Democrat  | Independent  | 81  | 67  | 60  | 54  | 50  | 34  | 33  | 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14  | Survey conducted Dec 3-7 2014.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER/USA TODAY 