More Americans Lost Belief In Santa Following 2016 Election, Poll Finds

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new poll reveals that more Americans lost their belief in Santa Claus following the 2016 election.

According to Public Policy Polling, 59 percent of Americans lost their belief in Santa, while only 31 percent still believe in St. Nick.

Following the 2012 election, 52 percent of Americans said they believe in Santa, while 45 percent said they did not.

Not believing in Santa is stretching across party aisles. Thirty-four percent of Republicans, 32 percent of Democrats and 27 percent of independents have lost their hope and joy over Santa.

"It doesn't matter whether you voted for [Hillary] Clinton or [Donald] Trump," Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling, said in a press release. "Everyone is feeling a little bit less hope and joy after this year."

The poll found that only 35 percent of voters think President-elect Donald Trump is on Santa's "Nice List" while 47 percent believe he's on the "Naughty List."

However, a whopping 70 percent of Americans thought they were on the "Nice List," while only 8 percent said they were on the "Naughty List."

Among Republicans, 54 percent say Santa is white and only 6 percent say he's not, while 41 percent have no opinion one way or another. Among Democrats, 26 percent said Santa is white, while 18 percent said he's not. Fifty-seven percent of Democrats had no opinion on the question.

The poll also found that only 34 percent of Americans think there is a war on Christmas, as 51 percent said they don't believe so. Sixty-nine percent of Trump supporters preferred "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays," while 63 percent of Clinton voters said they don't care.

The poll surveyed 1,224 registered voters on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7.