Then, as now, they felt the state was heading in the right direction, he said. The rest of the country was not so sure. A Washington Post poll done Sept. 11-23 found only 51 percent of 860 adults polled nationally felt the country was headed in the right direction. Although the mood is good here, the exact meaning of the polls is still elusive, he said. Mood polls need to be done regularly during five or six years before any reasons can be deduced, he said.
Demographics do seem to play a role, though.
Men were more likely than women to say New Hampshire was headed down the wrong track, he said. And, people older than 55 were also more likely to say the state was headed in the wrong direction, he added. He does have a theory, however. Residents compare themselves to other states.