Why Isn't the 'Southern Strategy' Working?

[brooklynite]

New York Times

Why is the Southern strategy suddenly flailing? I count four main reasons:

The country is changing. It becomes more racially diverse each year. And most Americans under age 35 are quite liberal. The horror of the George Floyd video and the ensuing protest movement have also changed the minds of many Americans.

People are afraid. Historically, many white Americans didn’t see how racism hurt them, Belcher said. But he now hears white voters in focus groups say they’re worried that the country is coming apart. “They talk about, if we continue on this trajectory, it’s going to be dismal for our kids,” he said.

Trump has gone too far. Most white Americans remain moderate to conservative on immigration, affirmative action and more. But many also believe police departments are biased, and many don’t like symbols of slavery. Reagan offered an optimistic, patriotic message that let many voters downplay or overlook his racial appeals. Trump is practically forcing voters to take sides on racism, Terrance Woodbury, another Democratic strategist, told CNN’s Ron Brownstein.

Voters are simply too unhappy with Trump’s handling of the coronavirus. “As long as that’s true,” The Times’s Nate Cohn told me, “I don’t see how he has the freedom to employ wedge issues.”

[mucifer]

1. Also, a big chunk of the republican propaganda talent is working on getting Biden and dems

in the senate elected.

[BComplex]

4. And as much as I appreciate it right now, it's going to bite us hard down the road unless

Democrats finally figure out what works in marketing our party. Being the best doesn't matter if we're not getting the fans.

[3Hotdogs]

2. Trump has failed to answer the question in every voter's mind: What'r ya gonna do for me?

An abstract Make 'merica Great Again was fine to capture the rube's imagination. Ask 'em, 3 years later, what has he accomplished?

Part of a wall.
Pissed off lib'tards
He would'a done more but fukin' Nancy.

But the wall and pissing off libs didn't make anyone's life any easier.

[betsuni]

3. Gone too far. Jumped the shark.

If Republicans hadn't politicized Supply Side Jesus evangelicals from the '70s they wouldn't have been so successful, but this is too much.

[beachbumbob]

5. failing where? Not failing in rural areas too much BUT it is failing in suburbia

education has always been the key and GOP has been anti-education for decades

[unblock]

6. The economy and his pandemic gross negligence matter immensely

While I'd love to think racism is no longer politically viable, Donnie's political prospects didn't start to crater until the wheels came off.

The southern strategy is a coalition. Racists plus those who will tolerate racists in their midsts as long as they think it's good for business and their wallets.

The racists are loving Donnie, it's the rest of the coalition Donnie is losing.

33% support among independents.

[2naSalit]

7. ???

practically forcing voters to take sides on racism

Practically ? How about Actually?