Seems like a fair proportion to me. Remember, though, that the Gallup poll asked people how they would describe themselves. Maybe a self-description is not entirely the same way political organizations would describe them? Anyhow, the entire 2012 Presidential race depends who the Republicans run as their candidates for president and vice-president.

I would not be surprised if Joe Biden was taken off the ticket for Democrats (it will look as though it was his own idea).

If Republicans run Mitt Romney as their presidential candidate with some other moderate as their v.p., I would probably vote that way - and it probably would be a winning ticket.

However, if the Republicans run extreme conservatives like Rubio, Bachman, or Palin on any part of the ticket, they will most likely lose.

Americans want something more conservative than now but still in the moderate (not extreme) area.