> George Bush won the popular vote- and pigs are flying
4 November 2004, 09:17
The reality is that Democrats haven’t had a popular vote majority (meaning 50%) since Lyndon B Johnson. Kerry 48%, Gore 48%, Clinton 49% and 43%. "We outnumber them?" It’s really time to examine the composition of "we." Traditional Democratic bases, Roman Catholics (including a good percentage of the Hispanic vote), gay-rights activists, pro-choice, and blue collar middle Americans have views that are often in opposition. Republicans have a simple message that can be articulated in a few sentences. Democrats cherry pick the issues, and increasingly alienate their blue collar rust belt base that has existed since Roosevelt’s New Deal, driving them to the Republicans, in favor of liberal candidates who do no know how to run campaigns out of Massachusetts. Is it any wonder that the last three Democratic Presidents have been from the South? Four if you count Gore. Reagan won on the strength of Southern Democrats. Candidates like Mondale, Dukakis, and Kerry are managing to change them into Republicans.
The reality is that Democrats haven’t had a popular vote majority (meaning 50%) since Lyndon B Johnson. Kerry 48%, Gore 48%, Clinton 49% and 43%. "We outnumber them?" It’s really time to examine the composition of "we." Traditional Democratic bases, Roman Catholics (including a good percentage of the Hispanic vote), gay-rights activists, pro-choice, and blue collar middle Americans have views that are often in opposition. Republicans have a simple message that can be articulated in a few sentences. Democrats cherry pick the issues, and increasingly alienate their blue collar rust belt base that has existed since Roosevelt’s New Deal, driving them to the Republicans, in favor of liberal candidates who do no know how to run campaigns out of Massachusetts. Is it any wonder that the last three Democratic Presidents have been from the South? Four if you count Gore. Reagan won on the strength of Southern Democrats. Candidates like Mondale, Dukakis, and Kerry are managing to change them into Republicans.