The first public opinion research in Iraq since the U.S. troop withdrawal reveals a dramatic shift in the country’s mood – particularly among Shia – as the political landscape adjusts. According to the most recent survey conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner and the National Democratic Institute, increased optimism about the country’s direction serves to benefit Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. In turn, Maliki’s Islamic Da’wa Party sees gains in support, rebounding among key constituencies that have been vulnerable to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.