According to the study, the distinction they make between the wings and the exhausted majority has a lot more to do with the naming of the middle groups. They’re exhaused with the division and squabbling. The distinction is along the lines of ideological rigidity. It’s not saying they’re ideologically center. It’s saying they’re not ridgid about their ideology. If you’re a “traditional conservative” you’re probably inflexible about many of your ideals, especially if you’re religious. That’s what it’s saying. The people in the exhausted majority have very diverse beliefs, but they’re flexible.
For example, abortion. The exhausted majority can accept a wide range of policies on abortion, but they don’t like either wing’s more extreme solutions, of either on-demand, unrestricted abortions, or outright banning them. The wings tend to see more things in terms of black and white, on or off, yes or no.
