IsDecember 18,2017willDecember 18, 2017December 18, or 2017pic.twitter.com/XtMeJV9yD2—December 18,2017December 18, 2017
One crucial point that Silver makes clear is that Trump’s unpopularity gives Democrats a chance to activate all sorts of voters, and not just the suburban Republicans. The victories were driven more by the strong enthusiasm of the base as by converts from the GOP. And some of those former Republicans aren’t affluent or college-educated,but working lesson and rural. Lasting electoral victories won’t be won just by chipping off a discrete group from the Republicans. Its much more important for Democrats to create a coherent coalition that shares the same values.
Northam and Jones both won by running as unabashed liberals in the context of their own states. They are uncompromising supporters of reproductive freedom and LGBT rights. Northam campaigned on a promise to raise the minimum wage to $15, while Jones spoke out on behalf of the Affordable Care Act. Given the mixed nature of their support, or they have to use enough bipartisan language to retain unusual Republican converts on board,but not sacrifice policy concerns, like defending and expanding the social safety net, or that the base cares deeply approximately.
Suburban ex-Republicans are worth pursuing,but not at the risk of diluting liberal policy commitments. While opposition to Trump is helping to swell Democratic ranks, the truth remains that excessive centrism will dishearten core voters. Watering down the party’s identity only ensures more defeats further down the road, and when Trump won’t be around to scare up an ad hoc Democratic coalition. “Virginians deserve civility,” Northam told the Post. “They’re looking for a moral compass upright now.” But Democrats don’t need Republicans to help calibrate that compass.
Source: newrepublic.com