Not true. As soon as I read your post I had to go check it.

The Gallup poll said that 53% of Democrats "view socialism favorably" as compared to 36% of "Americans". That is FAR from claiming to BE socialist. As far as I know, only Bernie Sanders of Vermont claimed to be a Socialist (as far as members of Congress are concerned)

Self-described "liberals" bump that number up a little - 61% of them "view socialism favorably".

Then again, define "socialist". Are we talking USSR-style totalitarian socialist? Or are we talking UK-style socialism that somehow still managed to have London supplant New York as the financial capital of the world.