Up is Down
November 16, 2007
• By Matthew Continetti
John Harwood explores the phenomenon of country club Democrats in today's Wall Street Journal. Here's the main idea:
In the 2004 election, exit surveys showed President Bush defeated John Kerry by 58 percent to 41 percent among those earning more than $100,000. In 2006, Republican House candidates edged Democrats among that group by 51 percent to 47 percent. Now the Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll shows Americans earning more than $100,000 want Democrats to win the White House next year by 48% to 41 percent, and want Democrats to win control of Congress by 45 percent to 42 percent.
Campaign-finance data represents another yardstick. The top five Democratic presidential candidates raised $242 million through the first three quarters of 2007, according to Federal Election Commission figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. The top five Republican candidates have raised $167 million.
The piece quotes Angela Williams, a "Hispanic union member" whose annual salary is $39,000 and who is terrified Giuliani may win the GOP nomination. Williams is a pro-life Republican.
The phenomenon of lower- to middle-class Americans supporting the GOP out of sympathy with its conservative cultural agenda is something the WEEKLY STANDARD has explored for years. So far the GOP hasn't come up with a reformist agenda to cater to voters like Williams. They may want to do so before Election Day 2008.
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