A new poll says a record number of Americans think government is too powerful.
The survey from Gallup finds 60% think the federal government has too much power while just 32% say the government has the appropriate amount of power.
That number includes 81% of Republicans, 65% of independent voters, but just 38% of Democrats.
During the 2008 presidential race, about half of Republicans and Democrats held this view. By September 2009, however, views became much more polarized: 25% of Democrats were concerned with the government’s power, compared with 78% of Republicans. Since that low point, Democrats have become more likely to view the government as too powerful, with 38% this year saying so — for a gap of 43 points between the parties.
