Democrats were smarter than Republicans

In 2004 Howard Dean dampened his political career by giving the Dean Scream after his third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, but he also changed American politics. He pioneered the use of the Internet to raise campaign money and to encourage younger voters to participate in the election process. During this election cycle, our new president-elect brought Internet and cellular communications to almost unimaginable heights.

The Democrats were smarter this November and may prove smarter for the foreseeable future. In 2008, two out of every three voters under 30—a huge demographic group–voted for Obama. I personally have some trepidation about our new government being determined by so many voters who have never had to make a payroll and some who have never been on a payroll. On the other hand, 52% of voters with yearly incomes of at least $250,000 went for Obama (compared to 46% who cast ballots for McCain), demonstrating that Obama not only played well with the young; he sold those most likely to experience tax hikes.

I was chatting with a notable Valley Republican recently who remarked that the pseudo-intellectual axis of evil stretching from the East Coast through Boulder, Colorado to Hollywood was the clear winner. They combined forces to execute a flawless and well-funded campaign.

In addition American demographics have changed and Republicans were well behind the curve.

The Democrats registered new voters, created a wave of excitement on college campuses and provided sophisticated messages across different media. They did their homework and they got it right.

The suburbs that were vital to Republicans have now morphed into neighborhoods with minorities, high-tech professionals and more liberally educated young couples. In Florida, the financial crisis swayed Baby Boomers with plummeting retirement accounts, so the Sunshine State went blue.

In the last decade over 2 million Californians have fled that state with many of them resettling in Colorado and Nevada, the same for residents of New York and New Jersey, who have found congenial retirement in North Carolina. This phenomenon helped put Colorado, Nevada and North Carolina in the Obama column.

Culture War issues like abortion, stem-cell research, same-sex unions and creationism held little appeal for those who had lost their jobs or were losing their homes. 

In the seven years since 9/11, many Americans grew complacent about national security. This Republican selling point moved far down the list for voting priorities. The collapse in gasoline prices just before the election erased that worry from consumers and the cry of “Drill, Baby, Drill” was reduced to a whimper.

The Republican image as the party supportive of big business, less regulation and market-based economies has been bruised and damaged. The party of less government has created more and the party of fiscal responsibility has lost their way.

Future elections in America will be decided by the swing or Independent voters. We will always have an element, like our illustrious local newspaper editor, www.wetmountaintribune.com, who would vote for Daffy Duck if he were on the ballot as a Democrat. Unfortunately, the same is true for some diehard Republicans. I personally feel more comfortable with elections determined by the middle instead of the fringes. If the Republican Party survives, it will need to address the concerns of this growing voting block. It needs to persuade average voters that markets and the economy can work for them with judicious oversight and that Republicans can provide it.

There is a huge amount of excitement about the first African-American president and a great deal of speculation about his administration’s ability to follow through with its campaign promises. He and his party will be judged in 2010 and again in 2012. But with some hope, prudent change and a real effort to build unity, the greatest country in the world will not only survive, but also prosper.

 

 

Tags: Obama victory