Poll finds growing optimism about America

More people say the U.S. is not in decline than at any point in the last 25 years, according to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. 

{mosads}Forty-nine percent of adults say “America is in a state of decline,” compared to 48 percent who say it is not.

That’s 6 percentage points higher than in 2011, when 42 percent of those polled thought the country was not in decline. It’s also the highest percentage recorded by the poll since 1991. 

The improving responses coincide with a healthier economy.

Half of the public says the economy improved either “somewhat” or “a lot” in the past year, a post-recession high. Forty-five percent say they are satisfied with the state of the economy, the highest level since 2004. 

President Obama could be seeing a boost from the improving economy, as the poll finds his approval is at 46 percent, up 4 percentage points since November. Forty-eight percent still disapprove.

With Republicans now in control of both chambers of Congress, a majority, 52 percent, says Republican control will not bring much change. Twenty-four percent say it will bring good change, and 21 percent say bad change.