Blacks Show Sharp Rise in Satisfaction With the Country's Direction

The number of blacks who say they are satisfied with the direction of the country has risen sharply since Barack Obama became president, rising from 10 percent in mid-2008 to 47 percent, according to a Gallup poll conducted Oct. 16-19.

"Increased satisfaction among blacks since 2008 is not surprising given the fact that the great majority of blacks -- 82% in the latest poll -- identify themselves as Democrats or as leaning to the Democratic Party," Gallup said. "Partisans typically show greater satisfaction with the direction of the country when the sitting president is a member of their political party."

But the pollster said there was more at work than party identification, given that black Democrats express greater satisfaction with the country's direction than white Democrats, by 51 percent to 38 percent.