GOP Image Net-Positive for First Time Since 2005

More Americans have a favorable (47%) than unfavorable (43%) opinion of the Republican Party for the first time since 2005.

Gallup:  PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans' opinions of the Republican Party have improved to the point where now more have a favorable than unfavorable opinion of the party. The last time more Americans viewed the GOP more positively than negatively was in 2005.

These results are based on a USA Today/Gallup poll conducted Jan. 14-16.
For the early part of the 2000s, Americans had a net-positive image of the Republican Party. That changed in 2005, as Americans soured on the Bush administration over the ongoing Iraq war, the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina, and rising gas prices, among other issues. After the 2006 midterm elections, which saw Americans remove the Republicans as the majority party in Congress, the Republicans' ratings were 35% favorable and 58% unfavorable.  (Continues here at Gallup)