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The '''Democratic Party''' is one of the two major political [[parties]] in the [[United States of America]]. It is generally seen as being politically between center and [[leftist | left]] of center, while the rival [[Republican Party]] is positioned to the [[rightist | right]] of center (see [[Political spectrum theory]]).  

The '''Democratic Party''' is one of the two major political [[parties]] in the [[United States of America]]. It is generally seen as being politically between center and [[leftist | left]] of center, while the rival [[Republican Party]] is positioned to the [[rightist | right]] of center (see [[Political spectrum theory]]).  

According to a Pew Research Center poll, 50 percent of Americans identify themselves with the Democratic Party as opposed to 35 percent for the Republican Party,<ref>[http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=312 Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2007] Pew Research Center, 22 March 2007</ref>, though President George W. Bush was re-elected as [[President of the United States|President]] on the [[Republican Party|Republican]] ticket in 2004, albeit by the narrowest margin of any incumbent candidate since Woodrow Wilson <ref>[http://www.multied.com/elections/ HistoryCentral.com] "Learn About the Elections"</ref>. The Democrats, currently in control the United States [[House of Representatives]] and the [[Senate]], have a 56.8% Disapproval rating with only a 36% Approve rating according to the PealClearPolitics Average of several dozens of Congressional Job Approval polls. <ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/archive/index.php?poll_id=18&page=2 RealClearPolitics Congressional Job Approval Poll], 03/29 - 04/09.</ref>  Democrats now also control the majority of State governorships and legislatures. <ref>[http://www.multistate.com/Site.nsf/Elections2006PostMaps?OpenPage Multistate.com] Post-Election 2006 Maps</ref>

According to a Pew Research Center poll, 50 percent of Americans identify themselves with the Democratic Party as opposed to 35 percent for the Republican Party,<ref>[http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=312 Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2007] Pew Research Center, 22 March 2007</ref>, though President George W. Bush was re-elected as [[President of the United States|President]] on the [[Republican Party|Republican]] ticket in 2004, albeit by the narrowest margin of any incumbent candidate since Woodrow Wilson <ref>[http://www.multied.com/elections/ HistoryCentral.com] "Learn About the Elections"</ref>. The Democrats, currently in control the United States [[House of Representatives]] and the [[Senate]], have a 56.8% Disapproval rating with only a 36% Approve rating according to the PealClearPolitics Average of several dozens of Congressional Job Approval polls. These ratings are only a slight improvement over those of the formerly Republican controlled congress. <ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/archive/index.php?poll_id=18&page=2 RealClearPolitics Congressional Job Approval Poll], 03/29 - 04/09.</ref>  Democrats now also control the majority of State governorships and legislatures. <ref>[http://www.multistate.com/Site.nsf/Elections2006PostMaps?OpenPage Multistate.com] Post-Election 2006 Maps</ref>

Like the Republicans, the Democrats are currently selecting their candidate for the 2008  presidential election; the front-runners in the contest are Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] of [[New York]] and Senator [[Barack Obama]] of [[Illinois]]. The most recent president who was a Democrat was [[Bill Clinton]], who served from 1993 to 2001. In his second term he was impeached by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives for lying under oath in a civil case which ended in a large out of court settlement, a reproach from the presiding judge, and his disbarment from the [[Arkansas]] Bar. However, the Senate did not convict on the impeachment charges.

Like the Republicans, the Democrats are currently selecting their candidate for the 2008  presidential election; the front-runners in the contest are Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] of [[New York]] and Senator [[Barack Obama]] of [[Illinois]]. The most recent president who was a Democrat was [[Bill Clinton]], who served from 1993 to 2001. In his second term he was impeached by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives for lying under oath in a civil case which ended in a large out of court settlement, a reproach from the presiding judge, and his disbarment from the [[Arkansas]] Bar. However, the Senate did not convict on the impeachment charges.