COMPARISONS | Political views

A look at how independents compare to Republicans and Democrats, according to Associated Press-Ipsos polling conducted this summer. Independents are people who insisted they favor neither major party after being prodded during the survey to say which party they tend to support.

GENDER

Independents, 49 percent male, 51 percent female.

Republicans, 53 percent male, 47 percent female.

Democrats, 45 percent male, 55 percent female.

INCOME

Independents, 68 percent under $50,000 annually, 13 percent $50,000 to $75,000, 19 percent over $75,000.

Republicans, 43 percent under $50,000 annually, 22 percent $50,000 to $75,000, 35 percent over $75,000.

Democrats, 54 percent under $50,000 annually, 20 percent $50,000 to $75,000, 26 percent over $75,000.

EDUCATION

Independents, 41 percent high school or less, 33 percent some college, 26 percent college graduate.

Republicans, 27 percent high school or less, 33 percent some college, 40 percent college graduate.

Democrats, 33 percent high school or less, 30 percent some college, 38 percent college graduate.

AGE

Independents, 49 percent under age 45, 51 percent age 45 and older.

Republicans, 46 percent under age 45, 54 percent age 45 and older.

Democrats, 44 percent under age 45, 56 percent age 45 and older.

RESIDENCE

Independents, 34 percent urban, 49 percent suburban, 17 percent rural.

Republicans, 26 percent urban, 53 percent suburban, 21 percent rural.

Democrats, 34 percent urban, 49 percent suburban, 17 percent rural.

IDEOLOGY

Independents, 20 percent liberal, 37 percent moderate, 28 percent conservative, 16 percent don’t know.

Republicans, 8 percent liberal, 28 percent moderate, 63 percent conservative, 2 percent don’t know.

Democrats, 37 percent liberal, 37 percent moderate, 22 percent conservative, 4 percent don’t know.

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS

Independents, 36 percent.

Republicans, 50 percent.

Democrats, 33 percent.

ETHNICITY

Independents, 57 percent white, 14 percent black, 21 percent Hispanic.

Republicans, 82 percent white, 4 percent black, 7 percent Hispanic.

Democrats, 62 percent white, 16 percent black, 14 percent Hispanic.

The data is from three AP-Ipsos polls conducted in July, August and September. The surveys involved telephone interviews with 3,007 adults and have a combined margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Included were interviews with 499 true independents, for whom the margin of sampling error was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points; 1,084 Republicans with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points; and 1,424 Democrats with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.