Divergent Opinions on the Economy, Part II

A few weeks ago I noted that perceptions of how the economy is doing seem to vary widely depending on one’s political affiliation. Some new survey results by Gallup may offer some insight into why:

Recent Gallup Poll data show substantial differences in the way Americans in core Democratic states and those in core Republican states rate the nation’s economy. Residents of Republican states express a greater amount of optimism about the economy, while those living in Democratic states show much more pessimism. Americans living in the highly important showdown states — those that narrowly went for President George W. Bush or former Vice President Al Gore in the 2000 election — rate the economy somewhere in the middle.

So it may be the case that the economy is simply doing better in the midwest and south, and doing worse in the northeast and on the West coast.

Or, maybe Republicans are simply more willing to believe what they’re told by the Bush administration.

Kash