Gallup says more Americans identifying themselves as conservative in 2009.

A recent Gallup poll shows more Americans identifying themselves as conservative. 40 percent say they're conservative, 36 percent moderate, and 20 percent liberal. The last couple of years, conservatives and moderates were tied at 37 percent.

I thought it was interesting the make up of the different parties. Republicans are predominantly conservative. While among Democrats moderates hold a slight plurality with 39 percent to 37 percent for liberals and 21 percent for conservatives. Of course, what one means by a liberal, moderate and conservative is important. Looking at the political leadership of the Democrat party, liberals are definitely in control.

The poll also looked at adults' views on different issues. There was movement across the board in favor of less government, less supportive of unions, more supportive of second amendment rights, more pro-life, supportive of promoting "traditional values", and less supportive of global warming.

Americans Also Moving Right on Some Issues

In addition to the increase in conservatism on this general ideology measure, Gallup finds higher percentages of Americans expressing conservative views on several specific issues in 2009 than in 2008.

• Perceptions that there is too much government regulation of business and industry jumped from 38% in September 2008 to 45% in September 2009.
• The percentage of Americans saying they would like to see labor unions have less influence in the country rose from 32% in August 2008 to a record-high 42% in August 2009.
• Public support for keeping the laws governing the sale of firearms the same or making them less strict rose from 49% in October 2008 to 55% in October 2009, also a record high. (The percentage saying the laws should become more strict -- the traditionally liberal position -- fell from 49% to 44%.)
• The percentage of Americans favoring a decrease in immigration rose from 39% in June/July 2008 to 50% in July 2009.
• The propensity to want the government to "promote traditional values" -- as opposed to "not favor any particular set of values" -- rose from 48% in 2008 to 53% in 2009. Current support for promoting traditional values is the highest seen in five years.
• The percentage of Americans who consider themselves "pro-life" on abortion rose from 44% in May 2008 to 51% in May 2009, and remained at a slightly elevated 47% in July 2009.
• Americans' belief that the global warming problem is "exaggerated" in the news rose from 35% in March 2008 to 41% in March 2009.

Of course, the big question is how these attitudes will affect political decisions. I wouldn't be surprised if liberals in Congress try to jam through more liberal policies while they have majorities in Congress even if that means some of their more moderate to conservative Democrats lose in 2010.

The impact of Sarah Palin on the election

There's been a media feeding frenzy surrounding Sarah Palin, her unmarried daughter's pregnancy, plans to keep the baby, and other personal aspects of Sarah's life.

Obviously, her daughter's situation is unfortunate, yet her support for her daughter's decision to keep the child and her own decision to keep her fifth child even though there was the likelihood of Downs Syndrome, speaks volumes about her pro-life beliefs. I don't think her daughter's situation will hurt her politically though I'm sure it's been challenging personally.

Democrats have attacked her on a number of fronts - personally and background. From my limited exposure, I think she's a pretty tough person. In the long run, this will only make her stronger. I find it interesting that the inexperience charge was made in the context of comparing her to Obama which of course doesn't make sense, because she's the vice president candidate and he's the presidential candidate. And beyond that she's actually had more executive experience than Obama.

I think her biggest contribution to the campaign is firing up the conservative base, particularly evangelicals and other religious conservatives. It may have a marginal impact on independents, women or conservative men. But the key impact is energizing people who were probably going to support McCain but weren't overly excited about his candidacy.

Ultimately, people will vote for McCain or Obama not the vice presidential candidates. As I mentioned before, Dan Quayle's perceived weaknesses didn't hurt George Bush, Sr. who came from behind to beat Dukakis.

It should be a very interesting final two months to Election Day.