CNN Poll: Americans Divided Over Obama Legacy.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.</s>SCIUTTO: Welcome back to THE LEAD. Back to our national lead, the breaking news, severe flooding on three rivers in the Midwest -- the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Meramec, threatening several populated areas along the rivers there. Evacuations under way, there are buildings and homes inundated. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon spoke moments ago about the devastating flooding in the region. Let's have a listen to what he had to say.</s>GOV. JAY NIXON (D), MISSOURI: It's very clear that the Missouri is in the midst of a very historic and dangerous flooding event. The amount of rain we've received at some places in excess of a foot has caused river levels not only to rise rapidly but to go to places they've never been before. Over the weekend, Missouri experienced widespread and deadly flash flooding. And just this morning, we were informed of additional three flood-related deaths. This brings the total number of fatalities to the storm to 13, 12 of which were caused by vehicles being swept from flooded roadways. Now that the rain has moved out, the threat has changed. But it is not by any means over, especially for communities along the rising Mississippi River and its tributaries here in the St. Louis region. Water levels in some locations are predicted to exceed the historic crest during the great flood of 1993, which caused significant and widespread devastation.</s>SCIUTTO: We spoke earlier with CNN meteorologist Tom Sater who said the trouble here is there may be more rain on the way, a story we're following closely in the coming days. Stay with CNN throughout the evening for the latest on flooding from the Midwest. Now, back to our politics lead. Heading into the New Year, pretty much anyway you slice it, people in this country are mad as hell at Washington. According to a new CNN/ORC poll, 75 percent of Americans say they are dissatisfied with the way our leaders are running our government. Most or at least somewhat angry with the way things are going in the U.S. Republicans, most likely to feel that way, especially, and almost unanimously, at 97 percent if they support Donald Trump. CNN's senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta, he's traveling with the president in Hawaii. Jim, the public is divided over whether President Obama has delivered on his promise for change, either positive or negative change. How is the White House responding?</s>JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Clearly, looking at this poll, Jim, not feeling the aloha spirit about what is taking place in Washington, Jim. You know, President Obama is heading into his final year in office, facing an angry public that is divided as ever. According to our CNN/ORC poll, as you might expect, given some of the heated campaign rhetoric interest the campaign trail this past year, and that's what the White House thinks this is about, Americans are outraged with the way America is being run back in Washington. You mentioned the dissatisfaction with Washington, look at this -- 69 percent say they are either very angry or somewhat angry with the direction of the country and despite the president's hope, as a candidate back in 2008 to heal the bitter political divide in Washington, our poll finds Americans are pretty much split on what Mr. Obama has achieved in the oval office. Most Republicans believe he has brought significant change in the country but, look at this -- 37 percent say that change has been for the better while the exact same number, 37 percent, say that change has been for the worst. Now, our poll did find one area where the public is optimistic, feeling good about the president's handling of his job, and that is on the economy, 52 percent say they like the way the president has handled the economy, 47 percent say they disapprove. So, all in all, Jim, heading into his final year in office, the president has potential to be remembered for his handling of the economy more than anything else. And as we all know Americans vote with their wallet. So, this is a potential boost for Democrats heading into 2016 despite all of the anger out there, which is palpable and very much present in our new poll.</s>SCIUTTO: Now, I don't know if this qualifies as silver lining, but there is someone who Americans are more disapproving of or many people, the Americans are more disapproving of, and that's Congress.</s>ACOSTA: That's right. The White House can always count on Congress being more unpopular than President Obama. That's been the case throughout his seven, now eight years in the Oval Office. Look at these numbers. The approval rating for Congress, satisfaction with Congress is just barely into the double digits. That is way below where the president is right now.