PRINCETON, NJ — Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals in the American populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first noted in June. Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group. Political Ideology: Annual Trends, 1992-2009 ‘Changes among political independents appear to be the main reason the percentage of conservatives has increased nationally over the past year: the 35% of independents describing their views as conservative in 2009 is up from 29% in 2008.’ The 2009 data are based on 16 separate Gallup surveys conducted from January through September, encompassing more than 5,000 national adults per quarter. Conservatives have been the dominant ideological group each quarter, with between 39% and 41% of Americans identifying themselves as either ‘very conservative’ or ‘conservative.’ Between 35% and 37% of Americans call themselves ‘moderate,’ while the percentage calling themselves ‘very liberal’ or ‘liberal’ has consistently registered between 20% and 21% — making liberals the smallest of the three groups. Independents Inch to the Right Changes […]