This holiday season as friends and family gather to celebrate, 25% of American adults say they will avoid political discussions like the plague. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 15% look forward to discussing politics with a passion. Most, 58%, say they will occasionally talk about the political of the day.

There is no gender gap on this question but Republicans are a bit more likely to discuss politics with a passion. Twenty-two percent (22%) of Republicans say such discussions will be part of their holiday tradition this year, a view shared by just 13% of Democrats and 10% of those not affiliated with either major political party.

Senior citizens are less enthusiastic about discussing politics during the holidays than younger adults. Just 10% of those over 65 say they will be discussing politics with a passion. Upper income Americans are far more likely to discuss politics than those earning less.

One thing not likely to stir much of whatever conversation takes place will be newspaper endorsements. Just 4% of Americans say that an endorsement by their local newspaper would make them more likely to vote for a candidate. Thirteen percent (13%) say the paper’s endorsement would make them less likely to support a candidate.

As you would expect, Republicans are less likely to view the endorsement of a local newspaper in a positive light. Just 3% of Republicans would be more likely to support a newspaper-endorsed candidate while 17% would be less likely to do so. Among Democrats, a newspaper endorsement would make them more likely to support a candidate and just 10% would have the opposite reaction.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations, Inc.

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