Read the full Gallup take on Politics in 2007

As the year progressed, a number of the major candidates became much better known to the American public, yet their images often became more negative. This was the perhaps inevitable result of the intense media focus on their backgrounds and positions as well as attacks and criticisms from their opponents. As the year ended, Barack Obama, John McCain, and John Edwards had the most positive images of the major candidates for both parties.

On the Democratic side, the year began and ended with the same front-runner, at least as far as national standings. In contrast, the national ordering of candidate support on the Republican side was significantly different — and more muddled — in December than it had been in January.