Number of Americans Closely Following Political News Grows

Gallup says that 36 percent of Americans are following political news "very closely," the highest number outside a presidential election year since its poll began tracking news interest in 2001, according to a survey conducted Aug. 31-Sept. 2. In 2008, which was a presidential election year, 43 percent said they were following political news very closely.

Another 42 percent of Americans say they follow political news somewhat closely.

Republicans and independents say they follow politics very closely by 41 percent and 37 percent, respectively, compared to 30 percent for Democrats.

The previous high for a non-presidential year was 2006, when Democrats rolled up big congressional wins in the 2006 midterm elections.

Demographically, 42 percent of men follow politics very closely compared to 30 percent of women. Those 65 and older follow politics the most closely among age groups, with 46 percent saying they do, compared to 37 percent for those ages 50 to 64, 36 percent for those 30 to 49, and 19 percent for those 18 to 29.

The group that tops all are people whose education is at the postgraduate level, with 52 percent in the "follow very closely" category.