Raleigh, N.C. – PPP’s annual poll about the holidays finds that Americans think we might have turned the corner in batting back the ‘War on Christmas.’ Last year we found that 47% of voters in the country thought the war was being waged, to 40% who disagreed. But now those numbers have nearly flipped with just 41% saying they think there’s a ‘War on Christmas’ to 47% who disagree.

It may be Barack Obama’s leadership that has helped dial down this war. Even though Sarah Palin literally wrote the book on the ‘War on Christmas,’ Americans trust Obama more than Palin to protect Americans from the war by a 42/40 margin. That Obama is trusted over a Republican on an issue that’s not exactly in his wheel house is some of the best polling news he’s received in months.

Perhaps one reason Americans are less concerned now about the War on Christmas is that they’re really not that concerned about the whole Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays thing. Certainly they prefer Merry Christmas- 51% say that’s their greeting of choice to 8% for Happy Holidays and 41% who say it doesn’t make a difference. But few Americans are actually offended by being told Happy Holidays- just 22% are with 75% saying it’s not a big deal.

Of course there’s a new issue dividing us this holiday season, and that’s whether Santa is ‘verifiably white.’ Only 32% of Americans think he is, while 36% say he is not and another 32% say they aren’t sure. The high level of indecision may be owing to only 43% of Americans saying they believe in Santa Claus to 50% who don’t. Those numbers are down from 52% saying they believed in him a year ago.

Ending on a high note 72% of Americans think they’re on Santa’s nice list this year to only 12% who think they’ve made the naughty one. So most people should have a good haul under the tree next Wednesday morning.

“Americans are less concerned this year than in the past about the War on Christmas,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “That should make it easier for them to relax and enjoy the holiday.”

PPP surveyed 741 registered voters from December 13th to 17th. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 3.6%. PPP’s surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.

Topline results are below.  Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Christmas?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 87%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 7%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Hanukkah?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 72%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Kwanzaa?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 47%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 24%

Q4 Are you personally offended if someone says
‘Happy Holidays’ to you, or not?
Are ………………………………………………………… 22%
Are not …………………………………………………… 75%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%

Q5 Are you personally offended if someone says
‘Merry Christmas’ to you, or not?
Are ………………………………………………………… 5%
Are not …………………………………………………… 94%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 1%

Q6 Do you prefer the phrase ‘Happy Holidays’ or
‘Merry Christmas,’ or does it not make a
difference to you?
‘Happy Holidays’ ……………………………………… 8%
‘Merry Christmas’ …………………………………….. 51%
Doesn’t make a difference ………………………… 41%

Q7 Do you believe in Santa Claus, or not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 43%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 50%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%

Q8 This year, would you say you are on Santa’s
nice list or naughty list?
Nice list ………………………………………………….. 72%
Naughty list …………………………………………….. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%

Q9 Do you think Santa Claus is a Democrat or a
Republican?
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 33%
Republican……………………………………………… 20%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%

Q10 Do you want a hippopotamus for Christmas, or
not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 15%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 76%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%

Q11 Do you think that there is a ‘War on Christmas,’
or not?
Think there is ………………………………………….. 41%
Think there is not …………………………………….. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%

Q12 Who do you trust more to protect Americans
from the ‘War on Christmas’: Barack Obama or
Sarah Palin?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 42%
Sarah Palin …………………………………………….. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%

Q13 Do you agree or disagree with the following
statement? ‘It’s a verifiable fact that Santa
Claus was white.’
Agree …………………………………………………….. 32%
Disagree ………………………………………………… 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 32%

Q14 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Megyn Kelly?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 26%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 18%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 56%

Q15 In the last presidential election, did you vote for
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 44%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 9%

Q16 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 13%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 27%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 23%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 19%

Q17 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 50%
Man……………………………………………………….. 50%

Q18 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 39%
Republican……………………………………………… 32%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 29%

Q19 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 9%
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%

Q20 If you are 18 to 45 years old, press 1. If 46 to
65, press 2. If you are older than 65, press 3.
18 to 45………………………………………………….. 36%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%

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