You can call them independent or you can call them conflicted, but Indiana voters are impossible to predict this year when it comes to political sentiment.

A just-released study done by Hamilton Campaigns, a Washington, D.C.-based political research and strategy firm used by the Democratic Party nationwide, shows Indiana to be a mixed bag when it comes to its political leanings.

And it shows U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., should have little trouble being re-elected next year.

"Evan doesn't need any shoring up," said Dan Parker, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party. He said he wanted an assessment of both Bayh and President Barack Obama, which is why he wanted to wait until Obama's first 100 days in office.

"The thing I found most amazing was the way the state moved to parity in the number who think the country is moving in the right direction," he said. "It shows me Hoosiers are feeling a little bit better now."

The survey was done among Hoosiers who describe themselves as likely to vote in 2010.

Among its findings, when it comes to self-description, the survey found the state's voters "solidly conservative in political ideology (but) closely divided along partisan lines."

The survey, released Wednesday, says 48 percent of Hoosiers describe themselves as conservative and only 20 percent as liberal but are almost evenly divided between Republicans (45 percent) and Democrats (41 percent).

Yet both Republicans and Democrats have favorable opinions of legislators of the other party, and 61 percent say Obama is doing a favorable job.

Take Bayh and his Senate partner, Richard Lugar, a Republican, as an example of the unpredictability of the Indiana voter.

OK, it's no shock that 89 percent of Democrats think Bayh is doing a good job. But so do a large majority of Republicans, 61 percent of whom have a favorable opinion of Bayh. Independents also like Bayh -- 74 percent of them have a favorable opinion of the state's junior senator.

This survey could be interpreted as a pre-emptive strike against those within the party who feel that Bayh is somehow vulnerable in his re-election bid next year.

Yet Lugar fares well also.

"Lugar has high favorability ratings among all voters, regardless of party affiliation," the Democrat-sponsored survey says. He is shown with a 74 percent approval rating among all voters, with only 19 percent saying they have a negative opinion of the state's senior senator.

So there you have it. A solidly conservative state that gives a comfortable margin of support to Obama. Democrats who like the moderate Republican Lugar.

What does all of this mean?

Parker said it means Indiana -- Republican and Democrat -- is comfortable with its senators and to a smaller extent its president.

"Our two senators are the gold standard in Indiana politics," Parker said. "Senator Bayh and Senator Lugar have a great working relationship."

The opinions are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at markk@nwitimes.com or (219) 933-4170.