The number of respondents that have a positive opinion of the Republican Party has spiked over the last year. Inversely, the numbers for the Democratic Party have fallen from their 2008 highs. This comes in the aftermath of the Health Care debate and the November Midterm Elections. In some ways, this shows that the two parties are almost equal in its positive-negative ratings. The poll is from Gallup, which has been doing similar polling for decades.
Democratic Party
Positive: 46%
Negative: 47%
Other/dk: 7%
These numbers show a modest improvement from the 2010 lows for the Democrats:
In March, just after President Obama signed the healthcare reform bill into law, 41% of Americans had a favorable view and 54% an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party, the worst Gallup has ever measured. Three other 2010 measurements showed similar scores.
The GOP, inversely, has seen a sharp improvement from the time of the 2008 election:
Republican Party:
Positive: 47%
Negative: 43%
Other/dk: 10%
Just after Americans elected Barack Obama to replace Bush later that year, the Republicans' net-favorable score was -27 (34% favorable, 61% unfavorable) -- the worst Gallup has measured in this trend dating to 1992.
It's certainly getting interesting for 2012.
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