Most still identify with major parties

A majority of people in the United States identifies with either the Democratic or Republican parties, according to an Associated Press-Gfk poll released Monday. 

Sixty percent of people said they identify with one of the two major political parties. That number rose to 80 percent, when those who lean toward either party are included.

{mosads}The survey found 40 percent support the parties because they said they generally like their policies. Despite their affiliation with the parties, a third of Republicans and a quarter of Democrats said they don’t completely agree with what the groups stand for.

Thirty percent of Democrats said liking the party’s candidates is a strong part of the Democratic identity. That also applied to 23 percent of Republicans and that party’s candidates. 

A quarter of the public said they dislike both parties, and a third said they distrust both parties to handle basic functions of government.

Thirty-five percent said they don’t trust either party to handle the federal budget. Thirty-four percent also said they don’t trust them to handle the federal government or address concerns of “people like me.” 

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Nine percent of Democrats describe Republicans as “closed-minded,” ”racist” or “self-centered” and 16 percent describe Democrats as  “dumb,” ”lazy” or “immoral.” 

The poll surveyed 1,354 adults between May 16 and 19 with a 3-percentage-point margin of error.