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Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 02:00 PM CDT
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| A newly released Gallup poll confirms what many of us have thought since the election results in November of last year: The GOP is withering into a small, extremely ideological, dramatically-Anglo, political party that does not reflect the views, or the face for that matter, of Texas.
The Gallup Poll results:
PRINCETON, NJ -- More than 6 in 10 Republicans today are white conservatives, while most of the rest are whites with other ideological leanings; only 11% of Republicans are Hispanics, or are blacks or members of other races. By contrast, only 12% of Democrats are white conservatives, while about half are white moderates or liberals and a third are nonwhite.
Just a few weeks ago David Carney, a political consultant with Republican Governor Rick Perry, commented that to expand the Republican Party in Texas to be more inclusive of moderate-leaning individuals was akin to the creation of a "whorehouse." That kind of ignorant thinking will lead downhill quick for the life of the Texas GOP. As the Gallup Poll results indicate, that kind of overall lack of appeal to a broadening diverse country, and state, is what is killing the Republican Party and its electoral chances in the future. |
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| The Gallup Poll results also demonstrate what a tough climb that Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has in defeating Governor Rick Perry in the upcoming Republican gubernatorial primary. The poll indicates that 6 in 10 Republicans are white conservatives with strong religious leanings. Those are also core Republican primary voters that Rick Perry currently has a pretty good lock on. Hutchison has to build a bigger tent if she wishes to survive a gubernatorial primary and appeal to the more moderate Anglo voters, and yes minorities too, all of whom are very loyal to the Democratic Party right now---even in Texas. Hutchison's job is much, much harder than Perry's is in a primary, but reverse that line in a general election. Perry has the tougher time appealing beyond a very small, ideological core, while Hutchison would have an easier time broadening her appeal. The primary comes first though.
This opens the door wide for a Democrat running for governor. If they can hold the loyal liberal to moderate base, shore up the various minority communities, and bring aboard disenchanted independents and moderate Republicans then the Democrat has a good shot. For that matter, these poll results should give motivation to Democrats on the chances of electing a statewide candidate, whether for governor, U.S. senate, or otherwise. That also means that Democrats still must continue to organize and mobilize a growing majority-minority population in the Hispanic community here in Texas. We also must continue and broaden our appeal beyond urban counties and start making inroads in rural counties. If we do that we can take advantage of very interesting 2010 dynamics because I become more and more convinced every day that Perry is the GOP nominee for governor and that is the best scenario Democrats could hope for. |
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