Much as conservative views dominate talk radio, so too do conservative commenters often dominate the reader commentaries on theday.com, particularly on articles and opinion pieces of a political nature. From my observations, the phenomenon exists at other newspaper websites as well.

Our Sept. 22 editorial “Time for Republicans to reject divisive candidates,” which criticized Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigration and Ben Carson’s opinion that a person of Muslim faith should not be considered for the presidency, received plenty of comments. As is usually the case, comments by our conservative readers dominated the discussion and were largely critical.

“We are on a failed path of overspending, it needs to be reigned (sic) in now. If that means no Muslim or Mexican immigration, then so be it. Sorry, we can't afford to resettle a hundred thousand people who have no business being here. Americans first, America first,” wrote “Leo,” who clearly did not have a problem with the Trump and Carson comments.

Now it may be that it was a lousy editorial that deserved to be blasted. Yet in this bluest of blue states, you would think more reader commenters would agree with the editorial’s stance. Heck, I would expect plenty of Republicans to agree that the party would be better off backing a candidate who preaches inclusiveness rather than the discordant Trump.

If you went by reader comments, you would be convinced conservative views dominate the political scene in these parts. Of course, it is quite the opposite. Democrats hold Connecticut’s every seat in Congress and the U.S. Senate, the governorship, and have majorities in the state House and Senate.

It could well be that the same factors that drive the success of conservative talk radio, and for that matter the high ratings of Fox News, create a disproportionate response in reader comments.

Conservatives, convinced that the news media slants its coverage in favor of liberal viewpoints, flock to radio talk shows and Fox News to hear to what they consider a fair perspective on news and politics, or at least a different viewpoint than they expect to find in the traditional media.

Likewise, conservative readers of theday.com may see commenting on our stories as an opportunity to provide the balanced outlook they consider lacking. For whatever reason, liberal readers are far less inclined to comment, be it in favor of political commentary they agree with or in opposition to conservative viewpoints.

Traditional radio, TV and newspapers (even to an extent newspapers’ online digital permutation) are old media. Their audiences trend older. Older people tend to be more conservative.

Younger people, inclined to be more liberal, particularly on social issues, turn to social and alternative media for their information. They often want their news with doses of entertainment. Proof of this is the success of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and The Onion, all left-of-center outlets that use comedy to make their points and attract a young audience.

Conservatives, perhaps, take it more seriously, devoting more time to listening and reading about politics and policy, and so are more inclined to add their two-cents when given the opportunity, calling into a conservative talk show jock or commenting online. While there are more voters who are left of center in this part of the country, as election results demonstrate, they may be less inclined to fixate on politics, reserving their say for Election Day in the voting booth.

Paul Choiniere is the editorial page editor.

Twitter: @Paul_Choiniere