Nearly 60 percent of Americans believe that President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE should compromise with Democrats when they are staunchly opposed to his proposals, according to a new Washington Post/Schar School poll.

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Fifty-nine percent of Americans want Trump to compromise, while just 29 percent said that his election gave him a mandate to carry out his agenda.

A much higher number of respondents said President Obama had a mandate after his White House win in 2008, according to a Post poll. At the time, 50 percent said he had a mandate for his own proposals.

The two elections were also quite different. Obama coasted to a huge Electoral College and popular vote win over Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainCindy McCain endorses Biden: He's only candidate 'who stands up for our values' Biden says Cindy McCain will endorse him Biden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states MORE (R-Ariz.) that year and entered with nearly a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Trump won a comfortable Electoral College win over Democrat Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE, taking states no Republican had won in more than three decades. Yet Clinton defeated him in the popular vote, and his party will have a narrow majority in the Senate. Trump will have a huge GOP majority in the House.

Most Americans are optimistic about the incoming president.

More than 6 in 10 say they expect major changes during his administration, while a slightly smaller majority say they are somewhat or very confident that the economy will improve under Trump. And 52 percent think living standards will increase during his term.

Trump in his presidency may benefit from Americans' views of the country, much as he did during the campaign.

Nearly 9 in 10 respondents they have been dissatisfied with the country in recent years, and 8 in 10 say “large-scale changes” are needed to set the nation on the right course.

The poll is based on responses from 1,002 adults who were interviewed Friday through Monday. The sample of respondents includes 400 Clinton supporters and 400 Trump supporters.

The results have a margin of error of 4 percentage points.