Party Images

Next, please tell me whether you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of each of the following parties. How about -- [ITEMS ROTATED]?

The Republican Party

Favorable

Unfavorable

No opinion

%

%

%

2008 Apr 18-20

39

53

8

2008 Feb 8-10

41

52

7

2008 Jan 10-13

42

49

8

2007 Nov 2-4

40

50

11

2007 Sep 14-16

38

59

4

2007 Jul 6-8

36

56

8

2007 Apr 13-15

42

51

7

2006 Nov 9-12

35

58

7

2006 Oct 6-8

37

55

8

2006 Sep 7-10

42

53

4

2006 Jul 28-30

43

50

8

2006 Apr 28-30

36

58

5

2005 Dec 16-18

45

48

7

2005 Oct 13-16

40

50

10

2005 Sep 8-11

45

45

10

2005 Jul 22-24

46

45

9

2005 Apr 1-2

50

44

6

2005 Feb 25-27

51

42

7

2005 Feb 4-6

56

39

5

2004 Sep 13-15

55

41

4

2004 Sep 3-5

53

40

7

2004 Aug 23-25 ^

50

41

9

2004 Jul 30-Aug 1

47

45

8

2004 Jul 19-21 ^

50

43

7

2004 Jan 29-Feb 1

48

45

7

2004 Jan 2-5

52

40

8

2003 Sep 8-10

50

44

6

2003 Mar 29-30

56

33

11

2003 Jan 3-5

51

38

11

2002 Dec 16-17

51

38

11

2002 Nov 8-10

54

38

8

2002 Oct 21-22

53

35

12

2002 Sep 5-8

54

40

6

2002 Jul 26-28

55

36

9

2002 Jan 11-14

61

30

9

2001 Sep 7-10

47

48

5

2000 Nov 13-15

49

43

8

2000 Aug 4-5

54

37

9

2000 Jul 25-26

49

39

12

2000 Jan 7-10

53

41

6

1999 Nov 18-21

50

44

6

1999 Apr 30-May 2

47

44

9

1999 Feb 19-21

45

46

9

1999 Feb 12-13

40

54

6

1999 Feb 4-8

45

47

8

1999 Jan 8-10

40

52

8

1998 Dec 19-20

31

57

12

1998 Dec 15-16

43

47

10

1997 Oct 27-29

50

42

8

1996 Aug 30-Sep 1 †

50

45

5

1996 Aug 16-18 †

55

41

3

1996 Aug 5-7 †

51

44

5

1996 Apr 9-10

52

41

7

1995 Apr 17-19

52

42

6

1992 Jul 6-8 †

53

39

8

^ Asked of a half sample

† Based on registered voters

The Democratic Party

Favorable

Unfavorable

No opinion

%

%

%

2008 Apr 18-20

56

36

8

2008 Feb 8-10

56

38

6

2008 Jan 10-13

55

36

9

2007 Nov 2-4

54

37

10

2007 Sep 14-16

53

43

4

2007 Jul 6-8

51

41

9

2007 Apr 13-15

55

38

7

2006 Nov 9-12

57

33

9

2006 Oct 6-8

52

38

10

2006 Sep 7-10

54

40

5

2006 Jul 28-30

52

40

8

2006 Apr 28-30

48

45

8

2005 Dec 16-18

46

45

9

2005 Oct 13-16

52

36

12

2005 Sep 8-11

47

41

12

2005 Jul 22-24

52

38

10

2005 Apr 1-2

50

42

8

2005 Feb 25-27

52

41

7

2005 Feb 4-6

46

47

7

2004 Sep 13-15

49

45

6

2004 Sep 3-5

50

41

9

2004 Aug 23-25 ^

54

36

10

2004 Jul 30-Aug 1

55

37

8

2004 Jul 19-21 ^

48

41

11

2004 Jan 29-Feb 1

59

34

7

2004 Jan 2-5

47

44

9

2003 Sep 8-10

49

45

6

2003 Mar 29-30

49

39

12

2003 Jan 3-5

52

36

12

2002 Dec 16-17

52

37

11

2002 Nov 8-10

48

42

10

2002 Oct 21-22

58

30

12

2002 Sep 5-8

56

38

6

2002 Jul 26-28

55

34

11

2002 Jan 11-14

55

33

12

2001 Sep 7-10

56

38

6

2000 Nov 13-15

53

38

9

2000 Aug 4-5

53

38

9

2000 Jul 25-26

56

35

9

2000 Jan 7-10

61

33

6

1999 Nov 18-21

51

41

8

1999 Apr 30-May 2

53

37

10

1999 Feb 19-21

55

37

8

1999 Feb 12-13

56

38

6

1999 Feb 4-8

57

37

6

1999 Jan 8-10

57

35

8

1998 Dec 19-20

57

30

13

1998 Dec 15-16

58

32

10

1997 Oct 27-29

54

39

7

1996 Aug 30-Sep 1 †

60

36

4

1996 Aug 16-18 †

55

41

4

1996 Aug 5-7 †

57

38

5

1996 Apr 9-10

55

38

7

1995 Apr 17-19

51

43

6

1992 Jul 6-8 †

54

38

8

^ Asked of a half sample

† Based on registered voters

In general, do you think the political views of [ROTATED: the Republican Party/the Democratic Party] are too conservative, too liberal, or about right?

A. The Republican Party

Too
conservative

About
right

Too
liberal

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Feb 8-10

43

38

15

4

2006 Oct 20-22

42

38

14

6

2002 Nov 8-10

34

51

10

5

1999 Feb 12-13

39

45

12

4

1998 Nov 13-15

39

41

15

5

1996 Oct 26-29

41

41

13

5

1995 Nov 6-8

38

37

18

7

1995 Mar

32

48

14

6

1994 Nov 28-29

31

54

11

4

1994 Nov 2-6

34

44

13

9

1994 Oct 22-25

35

44

15

6

1992 Aug 19-20

39

38

12

11

B. The Democratic Party

Too
conservative

About
right

Too
liberal

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Feb 8-10

8

50

39

3

2006 Oct 20-22

9

44

41

6

2002 Nov 8-10

11

45

39

5

1999 Feb 12-13

6

55

36

3

1998 Nov 13-15

9

50

37

4

1996 Oct 26-29

7

49

40

4

1995 Nov 6-8

12

43

38

7

1994 Nov 28-29

13

32

50

5

1994 Nov 2-6

10

40

42

8

1994 Oct 22-25

10

40

45

5

1992 Aug 19-20

8

46

37

9

Please tell me whether you think each of the following applies, or does not apply to the Republican Party today. [RANDOM ORDER]

A. Has a clear plan for solving the country's problems

Applies

Does not apply

No opinion

2006 Oct 6-8

29%

66

5

1999 Feb 12-13

38%

57

5

1994 Oct 22-25

28%

67

5

B. Can bring about the changes this country needs

Applies

Does not apply

No opinion

2008 Feb 8-10

39%

58

3

2006 Oct 6-8

40%

54

6

1999 Feb 12-13

52%

43

5

1994 Oct 22-25

43%

53

4

C. Is able to manage the federal government effectively

Applies

Does not apply

No opinion

2008 Feb 8-10

38%

58

4

2006 Oct 6-8

40%

54

6

1999 Feb 12-13

56%

41

3

1994 Oct 22-25

42%

53

5

D. Has mostly honest and ethical members in Congress

Applies

Does not apply

No opinion

2008 Feb 8-10

41%

52

7

2006 Oct 6-8

42%

51

7

1999 Feb 12-13

56%

40

4

1994 Oct 22-25

34%

58

8

Please tell me whether you think each of the following applies, or does not apply to the Democratic Party today. [RANDOM ORDER]

A. Has a clear plan for solving the country's problems

Applies

Does not apply

No opinion

2006 Oct 6-8

40%

53

7

1999 Feb 12-13

47%

49

4

1994 Oct 22-25

30%

67

3

B. Can bring about the changes this country needs

Applies

Does not apply

No opinion

2008 Feb 8-10

58%

39

3

2006 Oct 6-8

59%

36

6

1999 Feb 12-13

56%

40

4

1994 Oct 22-25

43%

53

4

C. Is able to manage the federal government effectively

Applies

Does not apply

No opinion

2008 Feb 8-10

54%

43

3

2006 Oct 6-8

57%

38

5

1999 Feb 12-13

57%

40

3

1994 Oct 22-25

34%

62

4

D. Has mostly honest and ethical members in Congress

Applies

Does not apply

No opinion

2008 Feb 8-10

52%

42

6

2006 Oct 6-8

54%

38

8

1999 Feb 12-13

55%

41

4

1994 Oct 22-25

34%

60

6

In your view, do the Republican and Democratic parties do an adequate job of representing the American people, or do they do such a poor job that a third major party is needed?

Do
adequate job

Third party
needed

No
opinion

2007 Sep 14-16

39%

57

4

2007 Jul 6-8

33%

58

10

2006 Sep 7-10

45%

48

7

2003 Oct 10-12

56%

40

4

Looking ahead for the next few years, which political party do you think will do a better job of protecting the country from international terrorism and military threats -- [ROTATED: the Republican Party or the Democratic Party]?

Republican

Democratic

No difference (vol.)/
No opinion

%

%

%

2007 Sep 14-16

42

47

11

2006 Sep 7-10

44

42

13

2005 Sep 12-15

48

37

15

2003 Sep 8-10

51

36

13

2002 Sep 5-8

50

31

19

(vol.) = Volunteered response

Looking ahead for the next few years, which political party do you think will do a better job of keeping the country prosperous -- [ROTATED: the Republican Party or the Democratic Party]?

Republican

Democratic

No difference (vol.)/
No opinion

%

%

%

2007 Sep 14-16

34

54

12

2006 Sep 7-10

36

53

11

2005 Sep 12-15

41

46

13

2003 Sep 8-10

42

46

12

2002 Sep 5-8

42

42

16

2001 Sep 7-10

41

45

14

2000 Oct 6-9

40

47

13

1999 Oct 8-10

45

46

9

1998 Oct 29-Nov 1

37

46

17

1998 Apr 17-19

43

42

15

1997 Oct 27-29

42

44

14

1996 Jul 25-28

41

42

17

1994 Sep 23-25

48

38

14

1994 Aug 15-16

42

36

22

1994 Aug 8-9

41

36

23

1994 May 20-22

40

42

18

1993 Aug 8-10

36

39

25

1993 Mar 22-24

38

46

16

1992 Oct 23-25

37

45

18

1992 Sep 11-15

39

48

13

1992 Jul 17-18

32

53

15

1992 Jul 6-8

42

38

20

1992 Mar 20-22

43

42

15

1992 Feb 6-9

41

43

16

1991 Jul 18-21

49

32

19

1991 Oct 24-27

44

41

15

1991 Mar 21-24

46

31

23

1990 Aug 9-12

45

30

25

1990 Oct 25-28

37

35

28

1989 Jul 18-21

51

30

19

1988 Sep 9-11

52

34

14

1988 May 13-15

39

41

20

1988 Jan 22-24

42

35

23

1987 Dec 4-6

41

38

21

1987 Oct 23-26

40

33

27

1987 Jul 10-13

34

36

30

1987 Jan 16-19

38

37

25

1986 Mar 7-10

51

33

16

1985 Jun 7-10

44

35

21

1985 Mar 8-11

48

32

20

1984 Sep 7-10

49

33

18

1984 Aug 10-13

48

36

24

1984 Apr 6-9

44

36

20

1983 Sep 6-9

33

40

27

1982 Oct 15-18

34

43

23

1982 Jun 25-28

43

33

24

1982 Feb 5-8

32

42

26

1981 Oct 2-5

41

31

28

1981 Apr 10-13

41

28

31

1980 Oct 10-13

35

36

29

1980 Sep 12-15

35

36

29

1980 Jun 27-30

31

37

32

1978 Oct 27-30

27

38

35

1978 Jul 21-24

26

40

34

1978 Mar 3-6

23

42

35

1976 Aug 27-30

23

47

30

1974 Sep 27-30

17

47

36

1972 Oct 13-16

38

33

29

1972 Sep 22-25

38

35

27

1972 Aug 4-7

33

39

28

1972 Apr 21-24

25

44

31

1971 Aug 27-30

21

46

33

1971 Jul 15-18

22

46

32

1970 Aug 25-Sep 1

26

40

34

1970 Jun 18-23

29

44

27

1968 Oct 17-22

34

37

29

1968 Sep 1-6

32

34

34

1967 Jun 2-7

30

41

29

1966 Oct 1-6

24

39

37

1966 Sep 8-13

24

41

35

1966 Jun 16-21

26

38

36

1965 Dec 21-Jan 5

19

48

33

1965 Oct 8-13

18

46

36

1965 May 13-18

18

52

30

1965 Feb 19-24

16

51

33

1964 Oct 8-13

21

53

26

1964 Sep 18-23

19

52

29

1964 Aug 27-Sep 1

18

59

23

1964 Aug 6-11

21

54

25

1964 Jan 30-Feb 5

20

48

32

1963 Nov 23-26

17

55

28

1963 Apr 4-9

24

45

31

1963 Jan 11-16

21

49

30

1962 Aug 23-28

22

45

33

1962 May 31-Jun 5

25

48

27

1961 Dec 7-12

19

56

25

1961 Sep 21-26

18

55

27

1961 May 17-22

20

55

25

1960 Oct 18-23

31

46

23

1960 Jun 16-21

26

47

27

1960 Feb 4-9

29

44

27

1958 Sep 10-15

23

45

32

1958 Aug 20-25

23

45

32

1958 Feb 14-19

22

47

31

1957 Sep 19-24

31

42

27

1957 May 17-22

36

38

26

1956 Oct 18-23

39

39

22

1956 Sep 20-25

38

37

25

1956 Sep 9-14

34

39

27

1956 May 10-15

36

39

25

1955 Dec 8-13

37

34

29

1955 Oct 6-11

36

38

26

1955 Aug 25-30

39

37

24

1952 Jul 25-30

25

52

23

1952 Jan 20-25

31

35

34

1951 Oct 14-19

31

37

32

1951 Aug 3-8

32

36

32

(vol.) = Volunteered response

[COMBINED RESPONSES]

Republican
better on both

Republican
better on
economy;
Democratic
better
on defense

Democratic
better on
economy,
Republican
better on
defense

Democratic
better on both

No opinion/
Uundesignated

%

%

%

%

%

2007 Sep 14-16

31

7

2

43

17

2006 Sep 7-10

32

3

10

39

17

2005 Sep 12-15

37

2

8

34

19

2003 Sep 8-10

36

4

12

31

17

2002 Sep 5-8

36

3

10

27

24

How well does the Republican Party do each of the following -- very well, moderately well, not too well, or not well at all? [RANDOM ORDER]

A. Represent your values

Very well

Moderately
well

Not too
well

Not well
at all

No
opinion

2006 Oct 20-22

10%

41

21

26

2

2005 Oct 21-23

24%

33

19

22

2

1999 Feb 12-13

15%

43

25

15

2

1994 Nov 28-29

20%

46

19

12

3

1994 Oct 22-25

11%

43

26

18

2

B. Represent your attitude about the role of government

Very well

Moderately
well

Not too
well

Not well
at all

No
opinion

2006 Oct 20-22

10%

38

26

24

2

2005 Oct 21-23

21%

36

21

20

2

1999 Feb 12-13

14%

41

30

13

2

1994 Nov 28-29

18%

46

21

11

4

1994 Oct 22-25

10%

42

30

16

2

C. Share your attitudes about the role of religion in politics

Very well

Moderately
well

Not too
well

Not well
at all

No
opinion

2006 Oct 20-22

11%

30

22

33

4

2005 Oct 21-23

22%

31

22

23

2

1994 Nov 28-29

13%

40

24

17

6

1994 Oct 22-25

8%

38

25

21

7

How well does the Democratic Party do each of the following -- very well, moderately well, not too well, or not well at all? [RANDOM ORDER]

A. Represent your values

Very well

Moderately
well

Not too
well

Not well
at all

No
opinion

2006 Oct 20-22

12%

44

23

19

2

2005 Oct 21-23

22%

36

22

18

2

1999 Feb 12-13

17%

43

21

17

2

1994 Nov 28-29

13%

36

29

20

2

1994 Oct 22-25

9%

39

28

22

3

B. Represent your attitude about the role of government

Very well

Moderately
well

Not too
well

Not well
at all

No
opinion

2006 Oct 20-22

13%

44

22

20

2

2005 Oct 21-23

18%

41

22

17

2

1999 Feb 12-13

18%

44

23

14

2

1994 Nov 28-29

11%

36

29

21

3

1994 Oct 22-25

7%

39

29

22

3

C. Share your attitudes about the role of religion in politics

Very well

Moderately
well

Not too
well

Not well
at all

No
opinion

2006 Oct 20-22

14%

34

23

24

5

2005 Oct 21-23

20%

33

21

22

4

1994 Nov 28-29

12%

35

28

20

5

1994 Oct 22-25

10%

36

24

24

6

How would you rate the job the Republican Party is doing on each of the following -- [ROTATED: very good, good, poor, (or) very poor]. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Dealing with corruption in government

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2006 Apr 28-30

2

24

48

24

3

B. Staying true to core Republican values

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

10%

49

26

10

5

C. Providing leadership from the presidency and executive branch

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

5%

38

35

20

2

D. Providing leadership from Congress

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

4%

38

40

16

3

E. Offering solutions to the most important issues facing the nation

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

4%

29

42

22

2

F. Managing the war in Iraq

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

5%

29

34

30

2

G. Working with the Democrats in Washington to get things done

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

3%

24

48

22

2

H. Putting the country's interests ahead of their own political interests

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

5%

23

44

26

2

How would you rate the job the Democratic Party is doing on each of the following -- [ROTATED: very good, good, poor, (or) very poor]. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Dealing with corruption in government

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2006 Apr 28-30

3

29

51

13

3

B. Staying true to core Democratic values

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

10%

51

28

8

3

C. Working with the Republicans in Washington to get things done

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

4%

27

47

19

3

D. Offering solutions to the most important issues facing the nation

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

5%

37

44

13

2

E. Putting the country's interests ahead of their own political interests

Very
good

Good

Poor

Very
poor

No
opinion

2006 Apr 28-30

6%

31

45

16

2

Do you think [ROTATED: the Republican Party/the Democratic Party] does -- or does not -- have a clear plan for solving the country's problems?

A. The Republican Party

Yes, does

No, does not

No opinion

2006 Feb 9-12

26%

67

7

2002 Nov 8-10 ^

50%

42

8

^ Asked of a half sample

B. The Democratic Party

Yes, does

No, has not

No opinion

2006 Feb 9-12

23%

68

10

2002 Nov 8-10 ^

30%

60

10

^ Asked of a half sample

Now, we'd like to ask you about your impressions of the two major political parties. First of all, what comes to mind when you think of -- [ROTATED]? How about … (OPEN-ENDED)

A. The Republican Party

2005 Sep 12-15

2001 Sep 7-10

%

%

Favorable

14

12

Conservative

12

16

Cater to the Rich

11

11

Unfavorable

11

13

Cater to big business

6

7

Self-centered/out for themselves

6

1

Untrustworthy

5

2

High morals

4

2

Money

3

5

George W. Bush

3

3

Greedy

3

2

Close-minded/not open to new ideas

2

1

For the people

2

2

For smaller/less government

1

1

Trustworthy

1

2

Arrogant

1

1

Poor economic conditions

1

2

Lower taxes

1

1

Fiscally conservative

1

1

An elephant

*

1

Poor environmental record

*

*

Other

7

13

None

8

7

No opinion

7

7

* Less than 0.5%

Percentages add to more than 100% due to multiple responses.

B. The Democratic Party

2005 Se