Gallup: Dems more positive about socialism than capitalism

Democrats view socialism more positively than they do capitalism, according to a Gallup poll released Monday.

The survey found that the number of Democrats who support socialism — 57 percent — hasn’t changed much since 2010, but only 47 percent of those respondents view capitalism positively, lower than in any of Gallup’s three previous measures of the same poll.

The poll marks the first time in Gallup’s measurement of the issue over the past decade that Democrats view socialism in a more positive light than capitalism.

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Republicans, on the other hand, favored capitalism much more than socialism. The poll found that 71 percent of Republicans feel positive about capitalism, compared to just 16 percent who said they feel that way about socialism.

Democrats’ shifting attitudes toward capitalism come as candidates identifying as socialists or democratic socialists have made progress in mainstream politics.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proved a tough challenger to Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination and earlier this year, self-described democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shocked the Democratic establishment with a victory over longtime Rep. Joseph Crowley (D) in a New York primary.