Results of the newest "Southern Strategy"

[underpants]

The Lotts and Newts and Delays and Barbour of the Republican world were just positive that "values" and righteous indignation would carry them to the ultimate power. It not only kept the fundies happy (voting, word of mouth, browbeating the press) it also fed what they thought was the only thing that was truly important-wielding power from their southern redoubt. Turns out that now they have cornered themselves in the south and can't keep the attackers at bay.

They lost both the electoral votes and a Senate seat in each Virginia and North Carolina. They also lost Indiana which might as well be in the south. Carolina is a fickle beast where Edwards won a Senate race and even Helms had trouble holding on with all the money he had at his discretion, so it is now for ever in play.

Part of their new Southern Strategy was also to indict illegals as the great domestic threat. A perfect scapegoat to scare both whites, poor whites, and blacks. They still got 1/3 of the Latino vote in the Presidential election but they are losing ground there, having your demographic portrayed as a kissing cousin of terrorists doesn't sit well with anyone.

In New England Republicans are almost non-existent. Even Chris Shays lost as support drained down river as it were. The Rockefeller Republicans (New York especially) reciprocated the feelings they received from their southern brethren. They had their own money operation and didn't want much to do with the aforementioned crowd anyway. They knew that they couldn't win with that thin strategy anyway but the lack of a cohesive message didn't help either side of their party.

They have to rethink this and fast. Mississippi is too close for comfort and Georgia is on the verge of tipping-Chambliss is in a run-off and Sonny Perdue's rain prayers (while not filling out the paperwork for gas before running off to Europe) are not conducive to wooing the empowered resource-rich black population let alone the northerners who continue to move in.

They pretty much emptied Louisiana of Landrieu's base (New Orleans poor) and she still won.

Chuck Todd says that Texas might even be in play in 2012 due to the rise of the Latino population.

Arkansas and Tennessee on the Presidential level are still basically owned by the NRA but Mitch McConnell (the money guy of the Senate) came way too close to not realize that something has to be done.

We'll see but the most recent results are clear.

[southernyankeebelle]

1. Oh my

I live in rural TN and am one of few that voted for Obama. The republicans won in the state house. These rednecks are so dumb they don't realize what is going on. I read in a small local newspaper that she was glad TN saw the light and voted for McCain. These people think that the republicans are going to help small businesses when in fact they aren't. These people won on peoples fears. This is nursery country and we have a lot of Latinos working here. They are harding working but you should hear what people say. I come from a family of emigrant's. They want the american dream. They aren't even smart enough to realize that latinos come from different parts of the americas. They think most are illegally here. The republicans managed to scare the hell out of people. Most people here are middle class, lower middle class and working poor. Our only hope in this state are the young people. They realize that the republican party only care about the bedroom issues and keeping them down.

[underpants]

3. Small business are completely taken for granted by them and written off by us

That is an element that the next DNC chair (if Dean retires) needs to address pronto

The can be tiny little fiefdoms in which the loyalty to the owner can bring votes according to the owner's decision. I don't mean this in a patronizing way just that they tend to be little families and the head determines a lot of what everyone else thinks.

Welcome to DU :hi: if'n I haven't before.

[LatteLibertine]

2. Yep

Republicans only cater to the middle class and "rednecks" during election time. It's all an act. Too bad they haven't figured it out. Rednecks consistently vote against their own best economic interests.