Poll: Kids Don't Want to Be President

Jan. 22 -- — At least one aspect of the American dream isn't quite what it's cracked up to be: While most teenagers in this country do think they could grow up to be president of the United States, the vast majority wouldn't want the job, an ABCNEWS/Weekly Reader poll finds.

Fifty-four percent of 12-to-17-year-olds in this ABCNEWS/Weekly Reader poll think they could grow up to be president. That includes equal numbers of boys and girls, and more — 62 percent — of teens of color, despite a history of white male presidents.

But an overwhelming majority of teens — nearly eight out of 10 — aren't interested in the job.

Why not? The top reason by far, cited by 40 percent, is either a lack of interest in politics, or other career plans. An additional 20 percent say there's too much pressure or responsibility in the job, 15 percent say it's too much work and 14 percent think they wouldn't be good at it. Five percent say there's "just too much arguing" involved.

Girls More Likely to Spurn Presidency

The number of teens who think they could be elected president has slipped from 62 percent in an ABCNEWS poll five years ago. This being an election year, getting the job might look especially tough.

Younger teens are somewhat more optimistic about their prospects of being elected president, and are twice as likely to want the job. Kids ages 12-14 say they could be president by a 17-point margin (58 percent to 41 percent); those ages 15-17 are evenly split. And 26 percent of the younger group would like to be president, compared with 13 percent of older teens.

Girls are 15 points more likely than boys to say they're not interested in the country's top job because of other career plans or a disinterest in politics. Boys are more apt than girls either to say that it's too much responsibility or too much work.

Strong Interest in 2004 Elections

But lack of interest in politics does not translate into lack of interest in this year's presidential election. Indeed, most teens, 57 percent, say they're at least somewhat interested in the campaign. And for good reason: 72 percent say that in terms of an impact on their own lives, it does matter who gets elected.