A new Gallup poll shows that the number of Americans who identify themselves as conservatives is nearly double the number that calls themselves liberal.
The survey found that 40 percent of Americans self-identify as conservative, 35 percent as moderate and 21 percent as liberal.
Gary Bauer, chairman of American Values, said he is encouraged by the results -- but doesn't expect the numbers to have much effect on how President Obama runs his administration.
"I don't think, quite frankly, that anything will affect the way that he governs," Bauer said, "other than some development in upcoming elections that leads him and his political advisers to believe that they've gotten too far out in front of the American people."
The research shows that when compared with 1992-1994, the percentage of moderates declined from 42 percent to 35 percent while there was a slight increase in the number of conservatives and liberals – from 38 to 40 percent for conservatives and 17 to 21 percent for liberals.
Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center, said the findings should be a wakeup call to Republicans.
"If the GOP doesn't learn from everything around it, I don't know if the GOP can ever learn," he explained. "The evidence is there that there is a huge plurality waiting for leadership from the GOP. And it's going to go elsewhere if the GOP continues to moderate its message."
-- Roger Greer
