Most Americans are bracing for even more political violence following an alleged leftist’s assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk last week in Utah.
In the latest Rasmussen Reports survey shared with Washington Secrets on Wednesday, 85% of likely voters believe that “there will be more political violence in the next few months.”
Nearly half — 48% — picked the highest level of possible violence, “very likely,” said the polling outfit.
The new survey showed a sizable increase in concerns among voters who had already expressed their belief that political violence was on the rise. In a similar survey in June that followed the assassination of Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, 78% said that they expected more violence.
In the new poll, equal percentages of Democrats and Republicans — 87% — said they expected more political violence.
Voters blamed “heated political rhetoric” for the rise in violence. By a margin of 46% to 28%, they blamed the hot talk over the availability of firearms. Police have said that Kirk’s alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, used his grandfather’s rifle to kill Kirk from a Utah Valley University rooftop perch 175 yards to 200 yards from where the cofounder of Turning Point USA was speaking at an outdoor rally.
Just 19%, meanwhile, blamed “mental illness.”
Voters also said that political violence is the consequence of people who demonize “those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible.” Some 86% agreed with that statement.
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The Kirk slaying has increased the division and heated political rhetoric in America, especially on the Left. Democratic pollster John Zogby told Washington Secrets this week that there is a “straight line” between liberal woke ranting and Kirk’s shooting.
Liberal media outlets like CNN have featured guests and hosts trying to deny that Left politicians and influencers have been cheering Kirk’s death, but the evidence pushed out by Kirk’s allies has been impossible to deny.