Most Americans are ashamed of this presidential election
Over the course of four months, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have battled it out to the bitter end, the winner of which will only be declared Tuesday night. But the war of political attrition has left Americans feeling rather ashamed, a Wall Street Journal/NBC survey reveals.
Nearly two-thirds of adults said that the 2016 presidential campaign made them less proud to be American, and around 60 percent said they didn't like either choice of candidate. Only 7 percent of Americans said the presidential election made them more proud; 28 percent said there was no difference.
By comparison, only 28 percent of voters said they didn't like either choice of candidate in 2012, when Barack Obama was running against Mitt Romney. And in 2008, the election made 34 percent of Americans feel more proud, and just 12 percent less proud.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Our poll shows that no one feels good about this election, and that a sizable number may not accept the outcome," said Democratic pollster Fred Yang, who worked with Republican pollster Bill McInturff on the Wall Street Journal/NBC poll.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June



