Since 1992, Gallup has released an annual analysis of American political preferences, culled from numerous polls taken over the course of the year. The 2011 results show, for the third consecutive year, that self-described conservatives are the largest ideological group in the nation (40%), followed closely by moderates (35%), while those identifying themselves as liberals finish a distant last (21%). Conservative commentators of various stripes have warmed to these reports over the years, citing them early and often as evidence of America's broad rejection of liberalism, and of a significant conservative plurality.
