As conservatives hear about how our ideology is facing a demographic challenge, a new Gallup poll gives us more insight into the nation’s political leanings, and it’s rather good news. The new poll showed that in forty-eight out of fifty states, conservatives outnumber liberals. Even in California, there’s a 6.3 conservative advantage. Gallup took “the percentage conservative minus the percentage liberal in each state.”
Patrick Burke at CNS News reported on February 1 that:
nationally, the amount of self-identified conservatives (38 percent) still outnumbers liberals (23 percent). The disparity between conservatives and liberals has remained consistent since Gallup began its tracking in 2008.
The top three conservative states in the U.S. were Alabama, with 50.6 percent of its citizens identifying as conservative followed by North Dakota and Wyoming, which both had 48.6 percent.
Two states—Massachusetts and Rhode Island—along with the District of Columbia were the only places where there were more self-identified liberals than conservatives.
Although the national gap between conservatives and liberals became smaller, the amount of self-identified conservatives still outnumbers both liberals and moderates.
Yes, blue states outnumber red states, but, as I mentioned before, it’s not all doom and gloom. Conservatives still outnumber liberals and moderates — with liberals being the smallest proportion of ideological voters. Hence, the notion that we’re a right-of-center nation is confirmed. Republicans need to revamp their messaging to animate the base, and prevent alienating moderates from voting Democrat in elections. Furthermore, if Republicans commit to playing defense, which is what the Romney campaign did pervasively in 2012, that’ll also move moderates to the left, and give a good reason for conservatives to stay home.
Granted, it doesn’t mean we give up on outreach to the Hispanic community, but it shows that the demographic challenge is not unwinnable for conservatives.
As 2014 approaches, the onus is on Republicans not to screw up. The ball is in their court. It’s our game to lose.
(H/T Weasel Zippers / Patrick Burke at CNS News)
These stats (that show our country’s status as that of “center-right” leaning) are utterly meaningless, considering how the left continues to control the helm in the national arena of ideas & policies. Talking about this comes across as a feel-good stroke that falls on its face. So, the proverbial “silent majority” still lives at the mercy of the leftist minority that continues to wield the lion’s share of the power. I know that life “is not fair,” but this (being at their mercy) is simply ridiculous; thus, I prefer not to dwell on the notion that ours is a “center-right” country because, for all practical purposes, it does not matter one whit.
There is a deep flaw to this kind of poll. There is still a stigma in the U.S. to being called liberal. Many people declared themselves moderate in the U.S., but always vote liberal. Also, there are many people in the U.S. who think of themselves as conservative, but don’t often vote for GOP candidates (these people lean libertarian or independent.)
From 1980 to 2008 the U.S. was a center-right country. Since 2008, America has shifted slightly left. America is now a straight-down the middle, center country.
Just because more people declare themselves conservative than liberal doesn’t mean that’s how people truly think, act or vote. I wish Americans voted along the lines of how they declare themselves politically, but they simply dont.
The people who vote are the people who count in a democracy. If America was still a center-right country, the right would own more than just the house of representatives in the federal government.
Maybe that’s because the GOP isn’t a conservative party — at least not on the national level. But they now hold 60% of governorships, which suggests that conservatives do indeed vote for GOP candidates if the GOP candidates are conservative.
Of course, that in and of itself is a victory, due to the Leftists replacing the Liberals. I wonder in how many countries this is true. Certainly not here in Israel; the very word (shamrani) has a negative sound. (Instead people call themselves Yemani, right-wing, which mainly refers to a strong defense snd s non-stupid foreign policy.)
There is a split on the Republican side between the so called party leadership and the rank and file grassroots members.
The leadership is comfortable with RINO’s being in charge and the great unwashed masses, who oppose the aims of the Democrat party, doing what they are told every two years as there is precious little alternative.
If a political force raises its head, the establishment is perfectly content to destroy in every way possible that alternative political voice while they continue losing elections until the rest of us poor ignorant souls get with the program and support their handpicked candidate.
I honestly believe hacks like Rove are simply in it for the money, and the TEA Party movement was seen as a threat to that cash cow.
As evidence just look at how the TEA Party movement was treated, even AFTER that movement gave them control of the House in 2010.
This split in the opposition against a smaller but far more united leftist front is why the Republican brand is doing so poorly on the national level.
It also explains how a country that sees itself as “conservative” keeps electing leftists to office, yet at the same time simultaneously elects Republicans to control of the majority of the states.
The advice on the national level to adopt Democrat positions in order to win elections will always fail for that reason. As proof, look at how many nominally conservative candidates win at the local and state level.
I would suggest that this is evidence that if the Republicans put up real conservative -or at least libertarian – candidates, then they would start winning again.
God made a farmer, yes conservative principles still resonate with the public. GOP “leadership” and consultants are the problem, the party is dominated by the Bush Family and the grassroots is not. We are against the ruling class of both parties. DC is boomtown, the rest of the country be damned.