32% of Voters Are Both Fiscal and Social Conservatives
(excerpt)

RASMUSSEN REPORTS

In today’s economic climate, few voters consider themselves liberals on fiscal policy issues, but there’s a little more divergence of opinion when it comes to social issues. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters describe themselves as conservative on fiscal issues, while 42% say the same on social issues. Only seven percent (7%) describe themselves as liberal on fiscal policy issues, but nearly four times as many (26%) say they're liberal on social issues. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say they’re moderate on fiscal issues, and 29% say the same about social issues. Overall, nearly one-third (32%) of voters are conservative on both fiscal and social issues, while just six percent (6%) are liberal on both and 16% moderate on both. Fifteen percent (15%) lean in the libertarian direction and say they are conservative on fiscal issues and either moderate or liberal on social issues.

In the fall of 2007, just 24% considered themselves both fiscal and social conservatives while 9% were social and political liberals. “Looking at the big picture, the number of fiscal conservatives is up six percentage points over the past four years, and the number of fiscal liberals is down five,” noted Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of male voters think of themselves as fiscal conservatives, a view shared by just 40% of female voters. Similarly, while 47% of men say they are conservative on social issues, only 37% of women agree. Seventy-six percent (76%) of Republicans describe themselves as fiscal conservatives, while 52% of Democrats view themselves as moderates in this area. Voters not affiliated with either of the parties are almost evenly divided between conservatives and moderates. Although 69% of GOP voters say they are social conservatives, the ideological breakdown is less clear-cut among the other two groups. A plurality (40%) of Democrats say they are liberal when it comes to social issues, but 32% say they’re moderates and 24% conservatives. Among unaffiliateds, 36% feel they are moderates, with 30% conservatives and 27% liberals.

Roughly seven-out-of-10 voters have viewed President Obama as a political liberal since he took office in January 2009.