… While it is true that most Americans consider themselves to be near the center of the ideological spectrum (either moderates or “slightly” liberal or conservative using the standard seven-point liberal-conservative scale), there are two reasons to expect that many of these moderates are illusory.
In truth, the American electorate is more polarized ideologically than it might seem at first glance. And that is especially true for those voters who are more knowledgeable about politics. CONT.
Keith T. Poole (U. of Georgia) & Christopher Hare (U. of Georgia), The Monkey Cage