Behind political polarization, there's a complex picture of partisans

Hidden beneath the stark partisan polarization of American politics today are sharp intraparty divisions over some of the most central issues facing the nation, according to a new analysis from the Pew Research Center.

The study assesses the public's views on a range of issues and segments Americans into nine groups, largely divided along partisan lines. Four fall mostly within the Democratic Party and another four mostly into the Republican Party, with the final group made up of largely disengaged Americans who are less clearly aligned with either side.

The groups within each party are distinguished by their ideological positions, their demographic makeup and their level of political engagement. And the analysis reveals that the coalitions that form within parties can vary based on the issue at hand.