A plurality of Americans believe that the United States has become more divided under the leadership of Barack Obama, according to a new Associated Press-NORC poll.
Obama pledged to bring the country together and deliver change to Washington during his first campaign for president in 2008. However, just over a quarter of Americans believe that Obama has been successful in uniting the country, according to the poll, which was released the same month that Obama will turn over the White House to President-elect Donald Trump.
Forty-four percent believe that the U.S. has become more divided under the current president, and 28 percent say there has been no change over the past eight years of the Obama administration.
The new research also shows that, while a majority of Americans have a positive view of Obama, most do not believe he has been successful in keeping his promises. Democrats and Republicans are also deeply divided in their opinions about Obama and his legacy in the White House.
Obama is set to deliver his farewell address Tuesday in Chicago, Illinois. Trump will be inaugurated on January 20, less than two weeks from now.
According to the polling, 57 percent of Americans hold a favorable opinion of Obama and 37 percent hold an unfavorable one. While 90 percent of Democrats view Obama favorably, only 21 percent of Republicans feel the same.
Fifty-two percent of Americans describe Obama as a great or good president, including 84 percent of Democrats and 45 percent of independents but only 12 percent of Republicans.
About one-third of the American public believes that Obama has kept his promises, while 44 percent of Americans say he tried but failed and 22 percent say he did not keep his promises.
Most people do not think that there economic situation has improved during Obama's time in the White House, with one-third saying there has been no change in their family's situation and 26 percent saying their circumstances have worsened.
And, while 46 percent of Americans see the country as having improved under the Obama administration, a majority–53 percent–believe Obama is leaving America worse or unchanged.