Harold Meyerson reports that the battle between Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney reflects class differences. Santorum appeals to those with low income and Romney draws most of his support from those with incomes above $100,000. Their policies are not that different, and neither of their policies will benefit GOP voters with low incomes, Santorum puts more focus on cultural and religious values than Romney and he evokes a greater emotional response than Romney.
Meyerson believes that the GOP has become more like the Democratic party which has had a similar bifurcation in its base. Upper middle class professionals have moved from the GOP to the Democratic party over the last few decades and they respond to candidates like Obama more than they do to Hillary Clinton who appealed to those with lower incomes and education in the Democratic base. That, perhaps is why Obama chose Biden as his running mate. He presented himself as the working class guy from Scranton, Pennsylvania.
If Meyerson is correct, it shows why the GOP has become more dependent upon its low income base that is primarily motivated by social values. This base must grow in order to replaced defecting professionals. Its also pretty clear that low income Americans that used to vote Democrat have been targeted by the GOP by appeals to values rather than economics.
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