Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

In 2007, Mood Just Beginning to Sour, Democrats Better Regarded

Public Opinion Four Years Ago

December 20, 2011

As another presidential election year approaches, the political and economic landscape has changed in a number of ways since four years ago. The public's mood was not very good in 2007, but still a lot better than it is today.

While a recession was gaining strength in 2007, the economic picture looked much brighter to Americans than it does today. Iraq and Afghanistan were still major public concerns, but now, as the last U.S. troops leave Iraq and thousands of troops remain in Afghanistan, only 4% mention these conflicts as top national problems, while 55% cite the economy.

On the political front, Democrats were gaining ground in party identification; since then they have lost ground. More Republican voters in 2007 viewed their presidential field as excellent or good than has been true in 2011. Public frustration with Washington has grown.

Read the full analysis, which compares current public opinion -- and other key measures -- to past data to see what has changed in the last four years.