The South was once the Republican’s playground. The region, which includes the bible belt, racially segregated sections and highly conservative districts, was once a sure bet to vote solidly for the Grand Ol’ Party. But as the song says: “Oh, the times…they are a changing.”
In 2008, Barack Obama carried Florida, Virginia and North Carolina — states that hadn’t gone for a Democrat in decades — and some political analysts are saying that may not have been a fluke.
New residents, changing birth rates, and migration patterns are making parts of the south less white, less conservative and less religiously rigid. Combine that with an increased urban influence in many areas, where African-American families are moving back to the South after generations in Detroit, Chicago, and other northern cities, and you can clearly see a formula for change.
“The transformation of the South seems to never end,” said Mo Elleithee, a Democratic campaign consultant with heavy experience in Virginia and federal elections. “Now it’s beginning to emerge, at least parts of it, as solidly purple.”
The theory is that younger voters, who used to blindly follow their parents’ voting record, are now less likely to join with Republicans on hot button issues like abortion and same-sex unions. These voters have a much more liberal view on such subjects than generations before them, including the role of the federal government in American society. Hispanics are also fleeing from the Republican party, as the GOP has led in the creation of laws that allow police to “racially profile” anyone on the street and require them to prove their citizenship.
Still, with a diminishing hold on the south by Republicans, the GOP is actually seeing their influence increase in western mountain states, including Colorado and Nevada. But even those states are evenly distributed with both Democrats and Republicans and is still up for grabs.
If you think any of this is being lost in Republican circles, guess again. Some see their influence dwindling and are quietly beginning to express concern.
Former Republican party chairman and two-term Mississippi governor Haley Barbour has publicly acknowledged GOP concerns that Hispanics will vote for President Obama in proportions Mitt Romney will be unable to overcome. He believes that “if the election for them is only about immigration,” then Republicans are doomed.
And on a related note…..Politico: "Jeb Bush: GOP needs to change 'tone' to reach out"Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a long-time proponent of increased Republican outreach to Hispanic voters, says demographic changes mean the GOP should shift the "tone" of its message over the long-term."I'm concerned over the long haul, for sure," Bush said in an interview aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet The Press." "Our demographics are changing. And we have to change not necessarily our core beliefs, but the tone of our message and our message and the intensity of it, for sure. … This is going to be a close election. Long-term, if conservatives principles our going to be successful and implemented, there has to be a concerted effort to reach out to a broader audience than we do today."A <span>Wall Street Journal/NBC poll</span> last week found President Barack Obama beating presumptive GOP nominee among Hispanic voters, 63 percent to 28 percent, and walloping him among black voters, claiming 94 percent of the vote to Romney's zero percent. This year, minority births outnumbered white births for the first time. [….]Read: http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2012/…HAH. If only that was all it would take for the Repubs…a "change" in "tone"….smh.By all means, don't change THE MESSAGE…change the tone!?!Yep. That'll do it./sarc
And at the rate they're going, the South could be just the tip of the iceberg."Tom Smith, GOP Senate Candidate: Pregnancy From Rape Similar To 'Having A Baby Out Of Wedlock' Trying to distance himself from the "legitimate rape" comment that Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) made last week, Pennsylvania Senate candidate Tom Smith (R) stirred up further controversy by comparing a pregnancy caused by rape to "having a baby out of wedlock."Smith <span>said Monday at the Pennsylvania Press Club</span> that although he condemns Akin's comment, he agrees with Akin that abortion should be banned without any exceptions, including for rape and incest victims. Pressed by a reporter on how he would handle a daughter or granddaughter becoming pregnant as a result of rape, Smith said he had already "lived something similar to that" in his family."She chose life, and I commend her for that," he said. "She knew my views. But, fortunately for me, I didn't have to … she chose the way I thought. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't rape."When a reporter asked Smith to clarify what kind of situation was similar to becoming pregnant from rape, the candidate responded, "Having a baby out of wedlock." […]Read: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/tom-smit…Really. Isn't it painfully obvious by now that there's somethng SERIOUSLY WRONG with most of the MEN in the Republican party?! ..beginning with BORDERLINE intellectual functioning and their total disdain for (if not out-and-out HATRED of) women.