Welcome to the Number of the Day

December 11, 2020

Twenty-two percent (22%) of voters believe their personal finances are getting better, while another 28% say their finances are getting worse. A PoliticalIQ survey found that 48% believe their personal finances are staying about the same, and 2% are not sure.[1]

The results reflect a modest increase in pessimism following Election 2020. The number saying their finances are getting better is down five points from just prior to Election Day and down four from the weekend after the election. On the other side of the equation, the number saying their finances are worse is up three points since the pre-election survey.[2]

The decline in optimism has been driven by Republicans. Prior to the election, 43% of GOP voters believed their finances were getting better. That fell to 36% after the election and 24% now. Such a partisan perspective is fairly normal following an election. Typically, Republicans are more upbeat about the economy when a Republican is in the White House, and Democrats are more optimistic when a Democrat is president.[1][2]

What is a bit unusual is that there has not been a corresponding bounce in optimism among Democrats. Prior to the election, 18% of those in Joe Biden's party said that their personal finances were getting better. That number has inched up just three points to 21% today.[1][2]

It is impossible to know precisely why Democratic optimism has not increased. It may be that President-elect Biden's victory was accompanied by disappointing results for Democrats in House, Senate, and state legislative races.
 

About the Number of the Day

Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.

To see other recent numbers, check out the archive.

Was this email forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day.