Poll: Many in US fans of MJackson

ATLANTA, July 3 (UPI) -- Results of a recent poll indicate a slight majority of US residents see themselves as fans of the late pop music star Michael Jackson, CNN reported Friday.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation telephone poll of 1,026 U.S. adults taken shortly after the so-called King of Pop's death, found 51 percent of respondents described themselves as fans of the "Thriller" star, who died last Thursday.

Polling officials said 75 percent of non-white respondents identified themselves as Jackson fans, while a majority of white respondents did not back the late singer.

"Most women say they are fans of Michael Jackson; most men do not. Most young people say they are Jackson fans, but a majority of Americans over 50 don't," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said of other demographics in the June 26-28 poll.

"Older Americans didn't 'get' Michael Jackson. They were probably offended by his defiance of cultural norms. Younger people got him," CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider said.

The survey had a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percent.