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The Associated Press This March 22, 2013, file photo shows the setting sun reflected in the windows of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. If theres one word that describes how Americans feel about politics these days, its negative. Majorities disapprove of Congress and the president and say the nation is heading in the wrong direction. Few trust their political leaders to make the right decisions, and some polls suggest voters would like to see the whole lot turned out next November. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

By JENNIFER AGIESTA/Associated Press/November 7, 2013

If theres one word that describes how Americans feel about politics these days, its negative. Majorities disapprove of Congress and the president and say the nation is heading in the wrong direction. Few trust their political leaders to make the right decisions, and some polls suggest voters would like to see the whole lot turned out next November.

Yet an Associated Press-GfK poll in October found more people tuning in to politics warts and all than tuning out.

Its not a major election year, so day-to-day interest in following news about politics and elections was lower than at the height of last years presidential campaign. But just 11 percent said theyre less interested in politics today than four years ago, while 30 percent said theyre more interested than in 2009, before the birth of the tea party or the passage of the health insurance overhaul, when people were about twice as likely as they are now to say the country was heading in the right direction.

Although those who are increasingly attentive to politics now are more likely to identify with a political party than as political independents, they seem to buck a notable trend in Washington: Rather than reflecting the increasing polarization seen in Congress, they tend to mirror the positions of the overall American public. The poll suggests those paying more attention to politics these days hold similar views to Americans generally on a range of prominent issues: the health overhaul law, gun laws, illegal immigration, abortion, same-sex marriage and the seriousness of climate change.

Tuesdays elections in New Jersey and Virginia also suggested a win for the ideological middle. According to exit polls conducted for The Associated Press, Virginia voters broadly rejected Republican Ken Cuccinelli as too conservative, and GOP Gov. Chris Christie trampled Democratic nominee Barbara Buono despite 57 percent of his states voters holding a negative impression of his party.

Those tuning out are less likely to see big differences between what the Democrats and Republicans stand for, a position that may reflect judgments about politicians motivations rather than their policies.

They frequently cite negativity in politics rather than specific positions as a reason for their distaste. One poll respondent said, The Republicans are acting like babies. The Democrats are acting like babies. Its unsettling and disgusting. Another, I get tired of hearing the bickering, and I dont trust anything any of the politicians say.

The AP-GfK Poll was conducted Oct. 3-7, 2013, and involved online interviews with 1,227 adults. The survey has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points for all respondents.

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DIGITS: Fed up, but not tuning out