Last Tuesday, Bloomberg political reporter Sahil Kapur tweeted from a Donald Trump rally in Massachusetts that an undecided New Hampshire voter said he will likely vote for the Republican businessman.
The mans second choice was Vermont Democrat-Socialist Bernie Sanders.
Tweeted Fox News contributor Michelle Fields the next day: “My cab driver in Iowa says he's an independent. His first choice is Trump. Second choice? Hillary.â€
Many registered Democrats in those regions now self identify as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents. Trump has captivated these voters, resulting in his commanding lead in the Republican field.
“In essence, Trump and the other outsiders haven't as much splintered the Republican Party but, rather, have taken advantage of the splintering of the Democratic Party,†Brauer said.
This could be good news for Republicans and not-so-good news for Democrats. These mostly disgruntled voters are turning away from their Democrat roots and are finding some solace with Republican outsiders, which could add noteworthy numbers to the GOP base.
We are seeing the end of the long, slow exodus of citizens with traditional (as opposed to cosmopolitan) values from Democrat ranks to the Republican Party.
Brauer says widening divisions are appearing in the Democratic Party, especially with its working-class members.
Thus far, those divisions haven't been as evident because the Democrats' less competitive primary is overshadowed by the Republicans' very competitive race.
So while Democrats still have significant demographic advantages in presidential politics,†Brauer said, “one of the main stories of this election cycle may very well end up being the ongoing disarray and rifts in the Democratic base.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
