In U.S., New Record 43% Are Political Independents

◼ In terms of national identification with the two major parties, Democrats continued to hold a modest edge over Republicans, 30% to 26%. - Gallup

◼ New Poll: How Many Americans Are Conservative, Liberal? - Daily Signal

Conservatives maintained their stronghold on America’s political leanings this past year, outnumbering those who identify as liberals and moderates in 2014.

Conservatives have been the largest ideological group in the United States since 2009, but the 38 percent who identify as such remained the same as last year’s Gallup poll findings....

Independents hit a record high of 43 percent, contributing to the shrink in the number who identify as Democrat or Republican.

Democrats were hit the hardest by the increase in independents, falling from 36 percent to 30 percent. Republicans dropped by two points, down from 2008’s 28 percent to 26 percent.

In the beginning of 2014, Democrats edged out Republicans by five points with 46 percent identifying as such versus the 41 percent identifying as Republican.

By the end of year this gap had flipped, likely in response to the Republican midterm election wave. Democrats trailed Republicans by one point from October through December.