Gallup reports that 'conservatives' ended 2009 as the largest of the three self-identified ideological groups in America.  Those who call themselves 'conservative' jumped three points last year to 40%, matching the groups high water mark in the last 17 years that was reached in the years 2003 and 2004.

Those identifying themselves as "moderates" and "liberals" in 2009 declined one point to 36% and 21%, respectively.

As you can see from the chart below, the upward movement among those identifying themselves as "conservative" came almost exclusively from Independent voters:

This confirms what political observers have been saying for some time: in a highly polarized and closely divided electorate, the "center" - occupied by primarily Independent voters - rules the day. In 2006 and 2008 those voters swung heavily in the Democrats' favor.

But in 2009 they began a migration away from Democrats, which manifested itself in the November elections when Independents voted in big numbers for the Republican gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey.

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