Ideological Orientation?

[Democratic Hawk]

In the 2004 presidential election CNN exit poll: 21% of voters identified themselves as liberal ; 34% conservative and 45% moderate

However, if pollsters asked whether they were either liberal or conservative , what do you think the split would be?

Furthermore, if pollsters asked whether they were either liberal , populist , conservative or libertarian , what do you think the rough share would be?

Dave

[MODU]

Huh . . . interesting question.  I think it boils down to perception, which leaves things open for a lot of data error.  For example, if you have an Opedo for example who thinks most democrats are moderates and most republicans are right extremists, then you are going to have inaccurate figures.  I think the nation is fairly well split around 30% liberal, 40% moderate, and 30% conservative on a consistant basis.  The moderate level might even be closer to 50%, taking evenly from both sides. 

As far as breaking it down between liberal, conservative, populist, and libertarian, I think you would find it somewhere around:

liberal: 20%
populist: 45%
conservative: 25%
libertarian: 10%

[opebo]

The question is a confusing one, since after all a 'liberal' in the American sense is by definition a moderate.

[MaC]

conservative: 40%
liberal:37%
libertarian (although a lot of people would ask what's that?): 13%
populist (even more people would ask what's that?): 10%

conservative: 52%
liberal:48%

[jokerman]

If someone was forced to choose....
Liberal 41%
Conservative 59%

Liberal just isn't a very popular term these days.  How many politicians do you see stumping for their campaign calling themselves liberal?  Now how many call themselves conservatives?


If the terms were explained a bit....
Conservative: 19%
Liberal: 28%
Populist: 39%
Libertarian: 14%

Not many of your everyday people are conservative.  Many who think of themselves as conservative on your liberal-conservative divide (especially in the South and Midwest/Great Plains) are right-wing populists.

[CARLHAYDEN]

A simple two sided split:

conservative                  62
liberal                            38

The foursided split:

conservative                 35
liberal                           13
libertarian                     13
populist                        39