How did the party of Lincoln become the party of the Confederate flag? It happened in stages. Almost every state that voted Republican in 1896 voted Democratic in 2000, while almost every state that cast its ballot for the Democratic candidate in 2000 had voted Republican in 1896. There were states […] Read more »
Stop laughing at Donald Trump
He may not have a shot at becoming president, but Donald Trump has already succeeded in uniting America — one nation, awash in snark. … But writing Trump off is dangerous. The billionaire may play the buffoon, but he is an important one — one whom Americans appear to adore. […] Read more »
Why the Democratic nomination race won’t be a Clinton coronation
If you thought the 2016 Democratic race would be a coronation, think again. Divisions in the party are emerging. Just like the ones we’ve seen before. Almost every contest for the Democratic presidential nomination ends up as a race between a progressive and a populist. Progressive candidates are inspirational. They […] Read more »
An opportunity gamed away
… It is a downbeat reality for a region that for much of the second half of the 20th century was actually closing its gap with the rest of the country, helped by the federal war on poverty and the end of legalized segregation. But during the past 15 years […] Read more »
2016 Voters, by the Numbers
… Looking at the race through a historical lens, the odds would seem stacked against Hillary Clinton (assuming that she is the Democratic nominee). In the post-World War II era, only six times has one party held the presidency for two consecutive terms, and only once has that party kept […] Read more »
Will Demographics Transform Southern Politics?
… It seems an overstatement to say that Southern Republicans are in outright denial about the fact that whites will be a minority in America around 2043. It does seem fair to say that the national Republican Party is underreacting, and Southern Republicans seem to be especially resistant to appealing […] Read more »