Gallup: U.S. "1%" Is More Republican, but Not More Conservative (Most have graduate degrees)

Gallup ^ | 12/05/2011 | Lydia Saad

[SeekAndFind]

PRINCETON, NJ -- Politically, the wealthiest 1% of Americans -- those in households earning $500,000 or more annually -- are somewhat to the right of the remaining 99%, but more in terms of party identification than self-professed ideology. One-third of the nation's "1%" identify themselves as Republicans, 41% as independents, and 26% as Democrats. This is a mirror image of the "99%," a third of whom are Democrats, with 39% independents and a quarter Republicans.

When the party leanings of independents are taken into account, 57% of the nation's wealthiest adults associate themselves with the Republican Party, compared with 44% of the "99%." At the same time, Gallup polling finds little difference in the two groups' ideological views. Among the very wealthy, 39% say their political views are conservative, 41% call themselves moderate, and 20% liberal, similar to the percentages seen among all others.

The Occupy Wall Street movement has made the contrast between the economic circumstances of the nation's wealthiest 1% and the remaining 99% the focus of its criticism of the nation's economic system, and particularly of the financial services sector.

To better understand who makes up the top 1%, Gallup combined 61 of its nationwide surveys conducted between January 2009 and November 2011. The resulting sample includes nearly 400 adults in households earning $500,000 or more annually, and more than 65,000 in households earning less than that. The official top 1% of American households in 2010 includes those with incomes of at least $516,633, according to data from the Tax Policy Center as reported in The Washington Post.

Advanced Education Separates the 1% From the 99%

[SeekAndFind]

[livius]

So the only way they could get this figure was by “projecting” the “leanings” of independents.

The power wealthy, meaning the 1% of the 1%, such as Bill Gates, the Packards and their foundation - and just about any other ultra-mega-rich person you can name - are all Democrats.

[Riodacat]

That 2nd chart makes no sense..

[jpl]

It sure looks to me like when it comes to political ideology, the difference between the so-called “1%” and the “99%” are statistically insignificant.