Democrats rate Cuba, China, Egypt, and Mexico at least 20 points more favorably than do Republicans. This was not the case eight years ago, in February 2005, just after — as is the case this year — an incumbent president had begun his second term. (Complete 2005 partisan differences in country ratings are on Page 2.) At that time, the only one of these four countries that generated the same large partisan difference was Cuba, which Democrats back then also viewed more favorably than Republicans.

Republicans and Democrats in 2005 — unlike today — viewed China, Egypt, and Mexico similarly. Since 2005, Americans’ overall views of Egypt and Mexico have become less positive, but Republicans’ views have dropped more significantly than Democrats’, thus widening the partisan gap. Democrats’ views of China have not changed since 2005, while Republicans’ views have become more negative.