Just 20% of American voters believe the United States is heading in the right direction while 74% say the nation has gotten off on the wrong track. The number who say we’re heading in the right direction has declined from 27% a year ago and from 43% in Election 2004.

Republican responses to this question have changed little over the past year, but pessimism has grown among Democrats and unaffiliated voters.

Today, just 3% of Democrats say the country is heading in the right direction while 93% say wrong track. Republicans are more evenly divided, with 48% saying right direction and 42% taking the opposite view. Among those not affiliated with either major party, just 12% say the country is heading in the right direction.

In the 2006 survey, those saying right direction included 48% of Republicans, 12% of Democrats, and 29% of unaffiliated voters.

Thirty-five percent (35%) of political conservatives say “right direction” along with 9% of moderates and 8% of liberals.

These attitudes are consistent with the extremely low ratings for Congress. Most Americans believe that history will judge the U.S. mission in Iraq to be a failure. Just 36% believe the nation’s best days remain in the future. Heading into Election 2008, government ethics and corruption is the top issue on voters’ minds.

Twenty-three percent (23%) of men say the nation is heading in the right direction. Seventeen percent (17%) of women agree.

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