Match.com Research Indicates Most Singles Are Open to Marrying Someone With Political Opinions Significantly Different From Their Own

Sixty-Three Percent of Singles Would Discuss Politics on a First Date

PRNewswire

DALLAS

Single Americans are happy to mix love and politics, according to a Match.com survey* of more than 900 singles. With much of the country polarized by political rhetoric coming from the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns, Match.com found that 63% of the singles surveyed are open to discussing politics on a first date, and Democrats were more likely than Republicans to say this.

In a separate Match.com study conducted in July 2004 of 1,001 single adults in the U.S., 57% indicated they are open to marrying someone who holds political opinions significantly different from their own.**

"Dating and politics can mix, and singles with opposing political opinions can often complement each other, while also providing for some lively and challenging dating discussions," said Trish McDermott, Match.com's Vice President of Romance and resident dating expert. "Although our parents may have warned against discussing politics on a date, our opinions and beliefs are a big part of who we are, and certainly something we should feel comfortable sharing with someone on a date."

  Additional Match.com Singles Political Survey Findings:
   *  44% think that a candidate's looks will be a key factor in the
      presidential election, and men were more likely than women to think
      this.
   *  25% would volunteer for a political campaign in order to meet a date
   *  By more than a 2 to 1 margin, singles believe Democrats are better
      lovers than Republicans
   *  49% of singles think President Bush is the better looking candidate,
      41% believe Senator Kerry is better looking and 10% selected Ralph
      Nader
   *  Most of the single women (53%) said that they would imagine Kerry to
      be the best kisser (compared with Bush and Nader), and 45% said he'd
      be the most fun on a date.
   *  48% of the Republican singles surveyed indicated that information
      about a candidate's married life would have an influence on their
      voting choice, while only 7% of the Democrats agreed.
   *  20% of single Democrats and 13% of single Republicans would break up
      with someone who thought it was not important to vote.

Match.com's recent political research is part of the company's Every Single Vote Counts campaign, a voter awareness initiative designed to highlight issues important to singles in this year's Presidential election and encourage them to get engaged in the political process. Upcoming activities include politically themed SpeedMatching events for singles in cities including Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle and other cities, along with online and offline communications programs to provide singles with resources to register in their local communities. At 80-million strong, America's single voters may play a decisive role in this year's Presidential election.

About Match

Operating more than 30 online dating sites, in 17 local languages, spanning six continents, Match.com is the world's leading online dating and personals property, according to the June 2004 global ranking by industry-leading independent measurement firm comScore Media Metrix. Match.com offers the industry's most advanced and comprehensive matching technology -- the exclusive Total Attraction Matchingâ„¢ system -- which incorporates powerful, scientifically based personality profiling tools and the first and only physical attraction matching platform. Since its launch in 1995, Match.com has been leading the industry in providing a wide array of tools and resources for its 12 million members seeking long-term, committed relationships or marriage. Match.com provides wireless dating (www.matchmobile.com), Online SpeedMatching (www.OnlineSpeedMatching.com) and events opportunities for singles through its sites MatchLive.com and SpeedMatching.com, both operated by its affiliate, MatchLive, L.L.C. Based on resignation survey data the Company calculates that more than 200,000 Match.com members met the person they were seeking on the site in 2003 alone. Match.com is an operating business of IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI).

* Match.com/Zoomerang survey of more than 900 single adults in the U.S.

** Match.com/Gallup survey of 1,001 single adults in the U.S.

SOURCE: Match.com

CONTACT: Kathleen Roldan of Match.com, +1-415-913-3136,
kathleen.roldan@match.com

Web site: http://www.matchmobile.com/

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