The study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project and the University of Michigan School of Information also found that 31 per cent of broadband users relied on the web as their main source of news.
More than 40 per cent of US web users in the US had used the internet for campaign news this year, and 30 per cent reported visiting the sites of non-traditional news organisations for political news.
"People are using the internet to broaden their political horizons, not narrow them," said Kelly Garrett of the University of Michigan, co-author of the report.
"Use of the internet doesn't necessarily diminish partisanship, or even zealotry. But it does expose online Americans to more points of view, and, on balance, that is a good thing."
More news from dotJournalism:
Bush/Kerry in virtual debate
Kerry leads online
Americans online
Fear and surfing
See also:
Pew Internet & American Life Project: http://www.pewinternet.org
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