But the question is…do parties reflect their supporters?
This year’s presidential election has broken molds and busted myths about politics as the candidates find their way forward in new ways. Republicans the party of ‘fat cats’ and Democrats of ‘the little guy’?
This little item on the Acton Institute’s blog looks at an interesting demographic trend and wonders what it may mean, going forward.
The gravamen is that Democratic presidential candidates in the current election have exhibited a whopping advantage among all kinds of elite groups, identified by professional, financial, or educational status. Meanwhile, Republicans garnered more support from plumbers, truckers, and janitors.
What a switch, if conventional wisdom prevailed. But there’s little to no conventional wisdom left in this campaign year. So follow the trending data. Which the National Review article Kevin Schmiesing is analyzing here does, but doesn’t explain that well.
Confused? The plumbers, truckers and janitors support for Republicans is “a phenomenon” that the National Review reports, but doesn’t explain…
other than to note that Democrats have enjoyed a $200 million advantage in general, which may go a long way toward generating the more specific category advantages. And which may further be explained (this is my speculation) as being due to a) more people thinking a Democrat will win the White House and wanting to support a winner, or b) the Democratic primary race being more competitive than the Republican, or c) a combination of the two.
But I’m wondering about the speculation on the influence supporters will have on the two parties. Here’s what the National Review says:
What should we make of all this? National political parties, after all, reflect their supporters, and party leaders traditionally feel a responsibility to cater to their supporters’ whims. A party that receives overwhelming support from elite Wall Street investment firms, corporate bigwigs, and highly educated professionals may find it exceedingly difficult to raise their taxes or impose draconian new Big Government regulations on them. Similarly, a party that is losing well-educated suburban professionals and gaining support from blue-collar workers may find it more difficult to support free trade agreements and embrace globalization.
This is making big assumptions. But that’s been another trend in this election, if little else has been constant. It’ll be interesting to watch the parties construct their platforms at the summer conventions, to put it mildly.