• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, October 29, 2020

A majority of Americans believe brands have an important role to play in politics -- including endorsing presidential and/or local candidates in the election -- especially Republicans.

That's the finding from the latest wave of tracking studies conducted by Mindshare, the last to be done before the U.S. election next week.

Fifty-nine percent of Americans surveyed by Mindshare agreed that brands play an important role in U.S. politics.

While more Democrats (62%) and Republicans (67%) agree with that statement, only 48% of Independent voters do.

Asked whether it is appropriate for brands to endorse a candidate, a slight majority (51%) of Americans agreed, compared with 61% of Republicans and only 40% of Independents.