Americans widely agree that the US has a unique character because of its history and Constitution that sets it apart from others as the "greatest" nation in the world, but they also believe that it is at risk of losing its stature, a latest opinion poll has said.
This view, commonly referred to as 'US exceptionalism', is shared by at least 73 per cent of Americans in all party groups, including 91 per cent Republicans, the USA on Thursady/Gallup poll said.
At the same time, Americans are also inclined to believe that this status of the country status is far from secure, according to the December 10-12 poll.
Three-quarters of those who believe the US is exceptional (62 per cent of all Americans) also believe the US is currently at risk of losing its unique character, it said.
"The poll does not delve into possible reasons why Americans think the United States' stature is at risk. It is possible this viewpoint reflects Americans' tendency to see national conditions as getting worse rather than improving," it said.
On the whole, Americans, by 58 per cent to 37 per cent believe President Barack Obama thinks the US is exceptional, consistent with what he and his advisers maintain.
But Americans are less likely to believe Mr Obama holds this view than they are to think the same about Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W Bush.
According to the poll, 66 per cent of the respondents said the United States has "a special responsibility to be the leading nation in world affairs."
Republicans, Democrats and independents generally agree, with fairly modest differences among party supporters, it said.