Democratic herd: Since Barack Obama’s 2008 victory, Democrats have watched
with dismay as the president has been vilified by opponents and as Washington, already
polarized, has become downright toxic. (Republicans have their own ideas about when the
polarization began.)
What had been a complicated patchwork of Democratic voting blocs before Obama has
coalesced into fewer groups that are more unified. They’re not exactly moving in lock step —
they never do — but their allegiance to the president has softened the usual party divisions.
His embrace of gay marriage is instructive: it was a galvanizing moment for supporters, and it
didn’t seem to hurt him with the large blocs of Democrats who are socially conservative.
The 2012 Democratic herd is charted here along a left-to-right continuum of party loyalty,
based chiefly on the Pew Research Center’s Political Typology as well as the views of political
experts. The size of the donkey icons approximates the relative strength of each bloc.
Pew’s tracking of party affiliation shows that a growing number of Americans identify as
independent. With party loyalists on both sides largely decided, “the race will move at the
margins,” said Tad Devine, a longtime Democratic consultant. That’s why the campaigns are
focused on identity groups: women, Latinos, older voters. Peeling off even slivers of these
could well determine who wins the election.
Staunch Liberals
One of the two biggest blocs and the party’s most loyal
voters, from students, academics and bloggers to Hollywood
icons. The activist subset grew with the vocal addition of the
Occupy movement, fueled by disgust with inequality and a
system seen as unfairly tilted toward the wealthy.
MOTIVATING ISSUES
o Inequality.
o Protect the environment.
o Expand the safety net.
o Abortion rights.
o Pro-gay marriage.
o Pro-immigrants.
o Pro-renewable energy.
o Cut defense spending.
o Gun control.
STANDARD BEARER
Elizabeth Warren is a rock star for championing consumer protections and taking on the finance
industry.
Blue Collar Bloc
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jessicaalicelachlan. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.12. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.