"Obama 1 Year Later"

The public's view of Obama is critical to his clout. It affects his ability to persuade reluctant moderates to sign on to revamping the health care system and to persuade liberals unhappy with some of its compromises to stay on board. It will help determine how much public support he can command for his decision on whether to deploy more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

A year ago, the public was nearly desolate: In a USA TODAY Poll the weekend after the election, just 13% were satisfied with the country's direction. That was in the middle of a three-month period of the most downbeat views in the 30 years Gallup has asked the question.Now 26% are satisfied — not exactly a gleeful mood, but less glum. Six in 10 predict the country will be better off in three years, the end of Obama's term.

The political landscape has shifted, too. A year ago, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said the economy should be Obama's top priority. Now that's declined to four in 10 — still the dominant issue, but by a less overwhelming margin. Attention to health care, the deficit and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has grown.Confidence in Obama's ability to deliver on his campaign promises has eroded, especially on domestic issues. A majority of those surveyed now say his administration won't be able to control federal spending or improve the health care system.