Poll: Half of All Americans Have Voted for an Independent Candidate

Rasmussen has just released the results of a survey that contained a number of questions inquiring as to respondents' views on third party and independent politics. A positive effect of Poli-Tea's "pressure the polls" action alert directed at Rasmussen? Not likely. The possibility that Charlie Crist may run for US Senate as an independent served as the report's lede. Among the findings:

Fifty percent (50%) of U.S. voters have voted for an independent candidate at least once in their life. Forty-one percent (41%) have not . . .

In March, 36.2% of Americans identified themselves as Democrats, while the number of Republicans inched up to 32.9%. The number of adults not affiliated with either major party dropped to 30.9% . . .

Only 32% of voters nationwide believe Republicans and Democrats are so much alike that an entirely new party is needed to represent the American people. That’s down three points from early February. Fifty-four percent (54%) disagree and say a third party is not needed . . .

Men feel more strongly than women that a new party is needed. Forty-two percent (42%) of voters 18 to 29 agree . . .

Roughly one-fourth of GOP and Democratic voters see a need for a new party. Among unaffiliated voters, 46% say a new party is needed, but 39% don’t share that assessment.

To reiterate: half of all voters say they have voted for an independent candidate; just over one-third identify themselves as Democrats; about one-third identify themselves as Republicans; and just under one-third desire an independent or third party alternative. Given the stability of this tripartite partisan breakdown, one wonders how much longer the myth of the 50/50 Democrat-Republican political and ideological divide will be able to dominate the thinking of commentators, analysts and everyday folks.