Majority of US voters say 2016 election brings out worst in people: poll

With harsh rhetoric as the brand image of the 2016 US presidential election, an overwhelming majority of voters say this year's race has brought out the worst in people.

According to a new Monmouth University poll released early this week, 70 percent of US registered voters believe that the matchup between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump has brought out the worst in people, with only four percent thinking otherwise.

While almost two in three voters say harsh language used in US politics is unjustified, nearly half of Trump supporters say the harsh language adopted by their candidate's campaign is justified, the poll found, compared to only 17 percent of Clinton supporters and 21 percent of those either undecided or are supporting a third party candidate.

"Half of Trump supporters seem to be saying let the expletives fly, but many voters blame both sides equally for the negative tone of this year's campaign," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Apart from half of voters who put the blame equally on both sides, 37 percent other say more of the harsh language is coming from Trump campaign.

Meanwhile, the poll found that the bombastic tone of this year's election has also taken its toll on friendship, with seven percent of voters saying that they have lost or ended a friendship due to this year's race.
 [Xinhua/globaltimes.cn]
2/10/16