Galluping Conservatives

According to a recent Gallup Poll (registration required), Republicans are far more likely than Democrats or independents to agree with the idea that "U.S. should take the leading role in world affairs." Thirty-six percent of GOPpers said yes to that, versus 23 percent of Dems and 20 percent of indies.

Writes Gallup contributing editor Darren K Carlson,

Further, those who say they have a conservative political ideology are significantly more likely than moderates and twice as likely as liberals to say the United States should take a leading role in solving international problems. Similarly, nearly 4 in 10 (39%) of those who approve of George W. Bush's handling of foreign affairs believe the United States should take the leading role, compared to just 15% of those who disapprove of Bush's handling of foreign affairs.

These differences reflect a shift of opinion compared with 2001. At that time, there was essentially no difference according to partisanship or ideology, with about one in six of all partisan and all ideological groups in favor of a leading U.S. role in world affairs. Much of the recent increase in the public's willingness to see the United States take the lead results from changes in Republicans' and conservatives' changing views on the matter.