The share of Americans who identify themselves as Republicans is at the lowest the party has seen in more than 25 years, according to a new poll.
Instead, more and more people consider themselves independents. On average, 42% of the public said they were independents last year, according to a Gallup poll published Wednesday. The rate is the highest for the party since the organization began polling citizens 25 years ago. Support of the Republican party simultaneously fell to 25%, the lowest number from the same time period.
GOP identification peaked in 2004 at 34% when former President George W. Bush won a second term in office. But then it fell, mostly during his final years as the country’s leader.
Participation in the Democratic party–31%–didn’t change from the past four years but is below its 36% recording when Americans first elected President Obama in 2008.
Last November, half of the country believed Republicans would have more influence over the country in 2014, according to a CNN/ORC International poll. Only 42% of the public said President Obama would wield greater influence. The president’s credibility took a hit last year among his administration’s mishandling of the health care website rollout and leaks about the National Security Agency’s spying program. He received all-time low approval ratings.
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