Hawkeye Poll: 49% predict economic turnaround

A new Hawkeye Poll finds most Americans believe the economy is still in rough shape, but about half expect things to look up significantly in 2010.

Eighty-six percent rate the economy as poor or very poor, and only 14 percent say it's performing well or very well, according to the University of Iowa poll. Fifty-one percent think the economy will remain in poor condition next year, while 49 percent expect it to turn around.

The random, national phone survey of 772 adults had an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. The poll was conducted Oct. 23-31. A topline document is available at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2009/december/120809hawkpolltopline.pdf.

Partisanship made a difference in respondents' economic forecasts. Seventy percent of Democrats believe the economy will be good or very good in a year, compared to only 45 percent of independents and 48 percent of Republicans.