HIGH POINT-The latest High Point University Poll asked North Carolinians questions about their views on American policy, both domestic and foreign. When asked whether the United States should take an active part in world affairs or not, poll director Martin Kifer says the response was about what was expected.

"It usually has a majority, not usually a large majority, of people who support taking an active part," Kifer says. "We found that here. Of everybody in the state, all adults over the age of 18, about 57 percent supported an active part. When we asked that in the Fall, we found the same thing."

If you turn your radio to world news or pick up a major newspaper, there's a good chance you'll read about some trouble brewing. So it's no wonder that in the poll, when asked about the United States' relationship with the rest of the world, Kifer says more people say it's less safe for Americans.

"About nine-out-of-ten people say things are more dangerous," Kifer says. "That's an increase of 10 percentage points since the Fall."

When it came to one major source of international fear - ISIS or the Islamic State - Kifer says around 70 percent of those surveyed said they have heard a lot about the terrorist group,, up from the last poll in November.

"We also saw an increase of about 10-11 percentage points in terms of the people who said that the U.S. government should be doing more to stop them," he says. "That's something to keep watching. I think people are becoming more anxious."

But Kifer says despite this high concern, the HPU poll still shows that consumer confidence in the state is relatively high.

"Even if people are feeling anxious about what's going on internationally, it may be that it's not extending itself to how they feel about their personal finances and how business conditions are looking here in the state and the country," he says.

But, at the same time, the latest poll shows 65 percent of state residents say they believe the country is generally going down the wrong track.

With the latest HPU poll asking how North Carolinians feel about the country and the world, Kifer also asked residents their views on those elected to tackle these issues.

With his final term half-over, North Carolinians view of the president is fairly stable. The poll shows, according to Kifer, that these opinions have stuck for months and months.

"He had a 43 percent approval rating with 48 percent disapproving," he says. "That's pretty stable from when we asked earlier this year and even going back to last year."

By contrast, if Governor Pat McCrory needs a quick boost, he can turn to the HPU poll, where Kifer says McCrory has been seeing his highest numbers in months.

"Governor McCrory's approval rating was 47 percent," he says. "That's the second time that we've found, in the last three times we've administered the poll, his rating in that area."

The poll also asked North Carolinians their views on elected officials. If you want a snippet, Kifer has this quick axiom: Congress never does well.

"When you ask about the institution of the U.S. Congress overall, it's usually in the teens," he says. "This is no exception and we had about 17 percent of people who approved."

The state's legislature - the N.C. General Assembly - fared better, with 34 percent of respondents approving of the institution's job and 40 percent disapproving.

And it may not be surprising to hear that a third of respondents had no view on North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis. He's only been in Congress a few months. But 42 percent of state residents also had no opinion on Sen. Richard Burr, who's represented North Carolina for nearly a decade. Kifer says that's not uncommon and Burr's poll results will change when he's running for re-election next year.

"As campaigns progress, more people do have an opinion," he says. "One of the things we know will happen over the next couple years as the senator seeks reelection - we saw this when Sen. Kay Hagan was seeking reelection - the percentage of people who don't have a view will decrease."

Of those respondents who did have a view, 30 percent approved of Sen. Burr and 27 percent approved of Sen. Tillis.