1. Republicans and Democrats
Learning Intentions: To assess the electoral support of the two major American political parties.
Who are their core voters?

2. 2008 Presidential election results
The standard presidential map shows the “Democratic” states in blue and the “Republican” states in red
It is misleading in two ways. Firstly a candidate can win a state narrowly (as Obama did in North Carolina, getting 49.9% of the vote to McCain’s 45.5%) and get all the state coloured in their colour. Secondly, it would appear from a first glance the Republicans won the election as there is more red on the map than blue.
But, Obama won the states with the biggest Electoral College Votes and ECVs are based on a state’s population, not its geographical size.

3. The Purple Map
The Purple Map shows the percentage of votes each candidate won in each state.
This gives a more accurate account of how popular each party/candidate was.
In total Obama won 66,882,230 (53%) votes to McCain’s 58,343,671 (46%), not the overwhelming defeat for the Republicans many made it out to be.
Obama won 66,882,230 (53%) votes to McCain’s 58,343,671 (46%)

4. The Demographics How America Voted 2008 Obama (Dem) McCain (Rep)
Whites
43%
55%
Hispanics 66 31
African Americans 95 4
Women 56 43
Men 49
Under 30s
White Evangelicals 25 73
Roman Catholics 54 46
Those earning above $200,000 53 45
The Republicans did exceptionally badly in the 2008 Presidential elections. Even the majority of rich people voted Democrat.

5. Congress 2008
The Democrats currently hold a majority in both houses of Congress.
But, the mid-term elections will be held on 2 November 2010.
All 435 seats in the House and 36 in the Senate are up for grabs. The polls suggest that the Democrats will get a thumping, perhaps as big as the defeat suffered by Bill Clinton in 1994’s mid-terms.
Republican voters are angry and motivated. Democrat voters are disillusioned.

6. Who are the Republicans?
In 2008 the Republicans lost control of the presidency and both houses of Congress.
Obamamania partly explains the Presidential defeat. But the state of the economy and the unpopularity of the war in Iraq were also factors.
Voters also rejected the Karl Rove agenda of Guns, God and Gays which had been so successful in clobbering the Democrats in the past.
In 2008 the Republicans lost control of the presidency and both houses of Congress.
Obamamania partly explains the Presidential defeat but the state of the economy and the unpopularity of the war in Iraq were also factors. But it also showed American voters rejecting the Karl Rove agenda; Guns, God and Gays
Long term demographic problems for the Republicans

7. Support Base: White Christians
Republicans have a strong support base among White Christian voters who disapprove of “liberal” causes such as abortion rights and gay marriage . Christian activists have also campaigned against the teaching of evolution in schools and have lobbied Republican politicians to support them in these causes.
In 2008, Presidential candidate John McCain won the support of Christian groups, but their support was not as strong as for previous Republican candidates for the Presidency. McCain was seen by many Christian activists as too liberal.
Republicans have a strong support base among White Christian voters who disapprove of “liberal” causes such as abortion rights and gay marriage . Christian activists have also campaigned against the teaching of evolution in schools and have lobbied Republican politicians to support them in these causes.
In 2008, Presidential candidate John McCain won the support of Christian groups, but their support was not as strong as for previous Republican candidates for the Presidency. McCain was seen by many Christian activists as too liberal.

8. Support Base: The Tea Party
The Tea Party was created in It began as a protest at federal government bail-outs for banks and the car industry.
It is a grass roots group within the Republican Party which attempts to mobilise voters behind “Tea Party” Republicans.
The Tea Party Movement

9. Support base: Corporate America
Traditionally the Republican Party is supported by big business.
The Republicans are opposed to “big Government” and support issues such as low taxes and free trade.
The problem is taxes have been cut, worker protections have been reduced, and the free market has been given a freer hand.
After the banking crisis and the credit crunch, many ordinary Americans are sceptical about big business running America.
They are also distrustful of the Government!
Traditionally the Republican party is supported by big business. The Republicans do not believe in “big Government” and support issues such as low taxes and free trade.

10. Support Base: “Angry White Men”
Able bodied white men are the only group in the USA who do not benefit from affirmative action programmes, which Republicans tend to oppose.
Republicans, in general, are opposed to “political correctness”, for example minority rights, something white males are more likely to oppose too.
White men are much more likely to support the Republicans. This has a lot to do with the Republicans’ opposition to affirmative action and “political correctness” in general. Able bodied white men are just about the only group in the USA who do not benefit from Affirmative Action programmes. But, perhaps they have other advantages going for them….
Angry White Male: Falling Down

11. Support Base: The South
The Democrats haven’t won Southern states at presidential elections since the party supported the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
It is claimed that there is a new cultural war between the God Fearing “Jesusland” Southern states and the rest of the USA which is more liberal.
White voters in the South are more likely to feel the Republicans are the party which best represents them.
The Republicans have a stranglehold over the states in the South and the Mid West. It is claimed there is a new cultural war between the God Fearing “Jesusland” Southern states and the rest of the UK which is more liberal. White voters in the South feel the Republicans are the party which best represents them.
“liberal” voters on the coasts dismiss those who live in “Jesusland” as “rednecks”. Even, okies from Muskogee (lyrics below)
Artist/Band: Haggard Merle Lyrics for Song: Okie from Muskogee Lyrics for Album: For the Record: 43 Legendary Hits
We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee; We don't take our trips on LSD We don't burn our draft cards down on Main Street; We like livin' right, and bein' free. I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee, A place where even squares can have a ball We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse, And white lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all We don't make a party out of lovin'; We like holdin' hands and pitchin' woo; We don't let our hair grow long and shaggy, Like the hippies out in San Francisco do. And I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee, A place where even squares can have a ball. We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse, And white lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all. Leather boots are still in style for manly footwear; Beads and Roman sandals won't be seen. Football's still the roughest thing on campus, And the kids here still respect the college dean. We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse, In Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA.
Southern Road Trip USA

12. The Republican Media Neal Boortz on Obama’s tax plans Rush Limbaugh
America prides itself on the 1st amendment freedom of speech. There are a massive variety of talk show and shock-jock shows where Republican minded talk show hosts can voice conservative viewpoints. Often these shows are syndicated across the entire nation. Naturally, they have websites too.
Rush Limbaugh
America prides itself on the 1st amendment freedom of speech. There are a massive variety of talk show and shock-jock shows where Republican minded talk show hosts can voice conservative viewpoints. Often these shows are syndicated across the entire nation. Naturally, they have websites too.
The most (in)famous are the America right radio stations, with a wide variety of different conservative shows, the Rush Limbaugh show and the Neal Boortz radio programme.
In March 2006, Boortz got himself into trouble when on the March 31 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio program, he said that Democrat Cynthia McKinney, "looks like a ghetto slut." Boortz was commenting on an incident in which McKinney allegedly struck a police officer at a security checkpoint. Boortz said that McKinney's "new hair-do" makes her look "like a ghetto slut," like "an explosion at a Brillo pad factory," like "Tina Turner peeing on an electric fence," and like "a shih tzu.“
Cynthia McKinney is the first ever African-American woman elected to Congress from Georgia.

13. The Democrats enjoy a majority in both Houses of Congress as well as, of course, having the Presidency.
Democrats, in general, tend to be more liberal on social issues and believe in a bigger role for government in the economy, for example, in providing health insurance.
Who are the Democrats?
Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi Democrat leader in House of Representatives. The Democrats enjoy a majority in both Houses of Congress as well as, of course, having the Presidency.
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat leader in House of Representatives.

14. Support Base: Labor Unions
The trade unions in America are a strong base of support for the Democrats.
The Democrats are much more likely to support workers rights and issues such as the national minimum wage.
The trade unions in America are a strong base of support for the Democrats. The Democrats are much more likely to support workers rights and issues such as the national minimum wage.
Obama: I believe in Unions

15. Support Base: Ethnic Minorities
Racial minorities, especially African Americans are strong supporters of the Democrats
Traditionally, they have been more likely to be poor and therefore more likely to depend on the government support which Democratic politicians are more likely to support
There are strong historical reasons for the loyalty of African American voters to the Democrats. JFK’s War on Poverty and his condemnation of racism kicked the boll rolling in the ‘60s.
The Democrats and President Johnston support for civil rights, along with Republican opposition made the Democrats the “natural” party for black voters.
In the modern era of focus groups, target seats, key states and swing voters, the Republican party has done its sums and realises the black vote just isn’t worth wooing. White voters are much more likely to vote.
The Republicans have a solid grip of the South and the Middle American states.
This is despite, and more likely because of a sizeable black presence in the South. White voters feel that if they don’t turn out and vote for a low taxing Republican, a high taxing, possibly black but certainly pro-black, Democrat will get in.
The Republican Party has been getting whiter. White voters know that minorities use public services (buses, housing, schools) more than they do. They are more likely to support a party that will tax them less.
White male voters do not benefit from affirmative action and will support candidates who oppose it. White voters feel that social problems such as crime and drugs are “black” problems.
They will support a party which gets “tough” on offenders. African Americans get the message, from overwhelmingly white, male Republican candidates that the Republican Party is not for them.
So, 9 out of every 10 African American voters vote Democrat.

16. Support Base: Liberals
Those Americans who are environmentalists, anti-war, support a woman’s right to choose abortion or support gay marriage are termed “liberals”.
They are highly unlikely to vote Republican and the Democrats is their normal political home.
Those Americans who are environmentalists, anti-war Iraq war, support a woman’s right to choose abortion, support gay marriage are termed “liberals”. They are highly unlikely to vote Republican and the Democrats is their normal political home.
Barack Obama on Gay Marriage

17. The Democratic Media Al Franken on Letterman
Like the Republicans, the Democrats have their share of supporters in the media. Michael Moore and Senator Al Franken are probably the most famous.
Al Franken on Letterman

18. The Future for the Republicans?
The Republican Party has bounced back from it’s defeat at the 2008 Presidential and Congressional elections.
All Republicans are trying to convince the American people that they are on the side of “Joe the Plumber”, who came to prominence in Joe the Plumber works hard, pays his taxes, obeys the law and doesn’t rely on Government.
The November mid terms are a big opportunity for the Republicans to win back control of the House of representatives. Voters are unhappy at President Obama’s performance; the cost of health care, high unemployment, negative home equity and the size of the Government deficit.
Looking further ahead, Sarah Palin could be the party’s choice in For others, Louisiana’s Governor, Bobby Jindal can be the Republican’s Obama.
The Future for the Republicans?
Joe the Plumber