---
title: "Great Expectations"
description: "Two-thirds of voters expect Obama to have a successful first term."
date: "2008-11-14"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2008/11/14/great-expectations/"
---

# Great Expectations

Even with all the challenges facing the new administration, fully two-thirds of voters (67%) expect Obama to have a successful first term, while only 22% think the new president will be unsuccessful. This is a slight improvement from four years ago when 61% of voters expect President Bush to have a successful term. While only 29% of Democrats expected success from Bush in 2004, currently 41% of Republicans are positive about Obama’s upcoming term.[Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1032/high-marks-for-campaign-high-bar-for-obama)