Since Kerry’s defeat, some Democrats have urged that the party adopt a political strategy more like one pursued by Bush and his senior adviser, Karl Rove — which emphasized robust turnout of the party base rather than relentless, Clinton-style tending to ‘swing voters.’
But Galston and Kamarck, both of whom served in the Clinton White House, said there are simply not enough left-leaning voters to make this a workable strategy. In one of their more potentially controversial findings, the authors argue that the rising numbers and influence of well-educated, socially liberal voters in the Democratic Party are pulling the party further from most Americans.
On defense and social issues, ‘liberals espouse views diverging not only from those of other Democrats, but from Americans as a whole. To the extent that liberals now constitute both the largest bloc within the Democratic coalition and the public face of the party, Democratic candidates for national office will be running uphill.’
I’ve argued that 2004 was a realignment year on the order of 1960 and 1932. If the Democrats wise up (and I’m not sure what it would take for them to do that – a convention of sorts?) and take the necessary step to the right that will make them competitive again, that would certainly justify my belief.
Whether the “Deaniacs” and other liberals who aren’t willing to let go of the 1960s are willing to let this happen is another story altogether. Of course, all of this begs the question as to whether or not such a reformed, centrist Democratic Party would be more appealling to those moderate Republicans and neo-conservatives who have either defected from the Dems over the course of time, or have become to comfortable governing the government the Democrats built.
If the Dems take a step to the right, will the GOP be ready to sluff off the moderate, big-government, and arguably socialist wing that gives them their overwhelming majorities? Even if it means losing their majorities and becoming the minority party again?
We live in interesting times indeed.