Fifty-eight percent (58%) of American adults say it would be good for the United States to have a truly competitive third political party. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 23% disagree while 19% are not sure. Responses vary significantly by age—65% of those under 40 believe a third party would be good for the nation. Just 43% of those over 65 agree.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) believe that the 2008 Presidential election campaign has started too soon. However, a look at the partisan results suggests that Democrats are enjoying the political season more than Republicans. Seventy percent (70%) of Republicans say that the election season has started too soon while only 22% disagree. Democrats are evenly divided—45% say the campaign started too soon but 45% disagree. One reason Democrats may be enjoying it more is that their party has an 11-point advantage on the Generic Congressional Ballot. The number of Americans who consider themselves Republicans fell to a new low in April.

Thirty-seven percent (37%) of all Americans say that the current system of primaries and caucuses is a good way to select Republican and Democratic candidates. Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree while 27% are not sure. Again, there is a generation gap. Just 44% of those under 30 think the current system is a good approach. However, among the nation’s senior citizens, 72% approve of the current system.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of Republicans are satisfied with the current system. That view is shared by 40% of Democrats and just 24% of those not affiliated with either major party.

Rasmussen Reports regularly tracks public attitudes towards Congress, the War on Terror, and other topics. Rasmussen Reports also continuously updates favorability ratings and general election match-ups for all Democratic and Republican Presidential candidates along with ratings for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports releases updated polling data on the Democrat Nomination Process every Monday and on the Republican contest every Tuesday. Results for the Generic Congressional Ballot are updated monthly.

Rasmussen Reports also conducts ongoing surveys measuring the attitudes of Americans on the news of the day including gun control, partial-birth abortion, and Iraq. The latest updates can be found on the Rasmussen Reports home page.

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