Partisan rift grows in US, poll finds

The United States' level of partisan hostility is increasing with neither the Democratic nor the Republican party very popular with the public, and there is a desire for more political parties, especially among younger people, according to a survey by Pew Research Center released on Tuesday.

Democrats are more likely than Republicans to want more political parties: 38 percent of those who identify with the Democratic Party said that describes their views extremely or very well, compared with 21 percent of Republicans.

The strongest sentiment for more parties was expressed among independents and others who do not identify with a party: 48 percent said it describes their views extremely or very well, including 48 percent of those who lean Republican and 53 percent of those who lean Democratic.

As for popularity with the US public, roughly 4 in 10, or 41 percent, have a very or somewhat favorable view of the Democratic Party, while 37 percent have a favorable impression of the Republican Party.

Overall, 61 percent hold an unfavorable view of the Republican Party, and 57 percent have a negative view of the Democratic Party. Roughly 72 percent view at least one of the parties favorably.

The share who dislike both－27 percent－is the highest it has been in Pew's data going back to 1994, when just 6 percent felt that way.

The US' level of partisan hostility is also rising, according to the survey. Over the past six years, the poll found that Democrats and Republicans have both grown increasingly likely to view members of the opposing party negatively.

In the latest poll, majorities of both sides describe each other as being more close minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent than other people, with Republicans adding "lazy".

The survey also showed a striking shift in partisans' moral assessments. Nearly three-quarters of Republicans, or 72 percent, now say that Democrats are more immoral than other people, up from 47 percent in 2016. A 63 percent majority of Democrats said Republicans are more immoral than other people, up from 35 percent in 2016.

There are smaller divides on characteristics such as governing in an honest and ethical way－just 43 percent think this applies well to Democrats, and just 37 percent to Republicans.

Neither party gets high ratings for honesty: 43 percent said the phrase "governs in an honest and ethical way" describes the Democratic Party, compared with 37 percent who characterize the Republican Party that way.

On political polarization in the US, a report last year designated US democracy as "backsliding" for the first time and found that the country faces particular challenges in effective legislative bodies and declines in the freedoms of expression and assembly.