In the latest tracking poll for political preference conservatives still outnumber liberals by a notable margin in the United States. More importantly the number of self identified liberals has been dropping off steadily for at least 10
years. The simple fact that there are less identified liberals in the United States means that the Democratic Party needs to rely more on independent voters.
The recent hemorrhaging of the independent vote by president Obama and the Democrats bodes well for the Republicans in the fall.
The ideological orientation of Americans seen thus far in 2010 would represent a record-high level of conservatism (since at least 1992) if it is maintained for the full year. This follows an increase in the percentage of conservatives in 2009 that was fueled by heightened conservatism among independents, a pattern that continues today.
