A (Democratic) Party Transformed

[babylonsister]

Remarkable, considering the source!

http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2008/0229nj1.htm

A Party Transformed

By Ronald Brownstein, National Journal
© National Journal Group Inc.
Friday, Feb. 29, 2008


In the crucible of the searing competition between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, a new Democratic coalition is being forged.

Their gripping race for the party's presidential nomination has not only increased Democratic turnout around the country -- often to record levels -- it has also significantly changed the composition of that turnout, possibly tipping the party's internal balance of power.

From New Hampshire to California, and from Arizona to Wisconsin, exit polls from this year's contests show the Democratic coalition evolving in clear and consistent ways since the 2004 primaries that nominated John Kerry. The party is growing younger, more affluent, more liberal, and more heavily tilted toward women, Latinos, and African-Americans.

In the 18 states for which exit polls are available from both 2004 and 2008, the share of the Democratic vote cast by young people has risen, often by substantial margins. Voters earning at least $100,000 annually have also increased their representation in every state for which comparisons are available -- again, usually by big margins. Women's share of the vote has grown in 17 of the 18 states (although generally by smaller increments). In 12 of the states, Latinos have cast a larger percentage of votes, as have the voters who consider themselves liberals. African-Americans have boosted their share in 11 of the 18 states.

These dramatic changes, measured by the Edison/Mitofsky National Election Pool exit polls posted for both 2004 and 2008 by CNN, represent the convergence of long- and short-term trends. Each of the Democrats' growing constituencies has demonstrated a special affinity for one of the two finalists in the nomination race -- young people, the affluent, and African-Americans for Obama; and women and Latinos for Clinton. But some of these rising groups have trended Democratic for years, and the key constituencies all moved, often sharply, toward the Democrats in the 2006 elections that swept the party to control of Congress.

"What you're seeing is that the particular appeal of Obama and Clinton is reinforcing trends that are already there and shifts that are taking place in the electorate," says Alan Abramowitz, a political scientist at Emory University.

This real-time reconstruction of the Democratic coalition carries important implications for the nomination fight, the November election, and the future competition between the two parties.

more...

http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2008/0229nj1.htm

[Demeter]

1. Specious Blather

The contest is between the DNC (the Good Doctor Howard Dean and his protege Obama) and the DLC (the Clinton Clique). And so far as we can tell, the Good Doctor is winning and Bubba is down for the count.

Something to be said for a Big Tent (and a 50 state program).

[babylonsister]

2. To you, maybe, not to me. It speaks to the will of the people

and changing attitudes.

[Demeter]

3. It's Far Too Early for Congratulations on Coalition Building, IMO

Let's see a few successful national campaigns completed before we take anything as a positive indicator.

And not in the Karl Rove take no prisoners style of winning, either, but in winning for Everyman and Woman.

Don't count the chickens before they hatch!

[OHdem10]

4. Oh, just a carbon copy of the Republican Party --just younger.

Do we need a third party to represent MiddleClass Working Class
and Lower Income People?? Beginning to think so.