Democrats draw plan to shatter the GOP

[mystery-ak]

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/democrats-2016-strategy-gop-219957


Democrats draw plan to shatter the GOP

Through a combination of messaging and the ascendance of Donald Trump, Democrats see a path to cutting into the GOP coalition.

By Kyle Cheney

02/29/16 11:06 AM EST


Democrats are drawing blueprints for stealing GOP moderates from a rightward-driving Republican Party, saying the heist is key to scoring a White House win in November.

Democracy Corps’ Stan Greenberg, a prominent national Democratic pollster, released data Monday morning that suggest moderate Republicans — nearly a third of the GOP base — are being ignored by their presidential candidates. These Republicans don’t revile Planned Parenthood — in fact, many prefer the women’s health group to pro-life groups and candidates who take hard-line stances on abortion. They’re supportive of same-sex marriage. They’re not enamored of the NRA. They have less rigid attitudes about sex. They accept climate science.

“It’s mind-boggling,” Greenberg said. “They’re considered illegitimate within the Republican Party, and no one is speaking to them."

It’s a dynamic Greenberg said could drive those moderates toward Democrats this fall, and he wants his party to work to make that happen.

But while the GOP moderates may feel a break from their party, they're also hostile to Democrats, meaning that bringing them over would require a total rebranding of the Democratic Party in their eyes. In an online poll of 800 likely Republican primary voters, conducted from Feb. 11 to Feb. 16, Democracy Corp found that anti-Democrat attitudes are the most potent driver of Republican primary voters — and their antipathy for Hillary Clinton outweighs even their dislike for President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party as a whole, a feeling that cuts across ideology.

Still, the poll shows that GOP moderates may be pliable — and that Democratic efforts to corral GOP votes shouldn’t end with just looking for moderates. The results show that Catholic Republicans are similarly out of step with the Republican base. They’re less hostile to government regulation and generally agree that those making more than $250,000 a year should pay “a lot” more in taxes.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/democrats-2016-strategy-gop-219957#ixzz41awUTJyz

[sinkspur]

That's OK.  Trump's coming their way once he gets the nomination.  He already loves Planned Parenthood, wants to tax the rich more, is pliable on abortion, and would likely support efforts to overturn Citizens United.

So, he's half-way there already.

[GAJohnnie]

Well I suppose it is possible Greenberg might finally be right. Hasn't happened before so maybe this one time it will work...except of course when you look at how far left Clinton has gone and how few Democrats are showing up to vote in primaries. Cannot get their average blue collar Democrats to get out and vote for them this year, not going to get anyone in the GOP to cross over for Clinton

[Paladin]

"These Republicans don’t revile Planned Parenthood — in fact, many prefer the women’s health group to pro-life groups and candidates who take hard-line stances on abortion. They’re supportive of same-sex marriage. They’re not enamored of the NRA. They have less rigid attitudes about sex. They accept climate science.'

In other words they are Democrats.

[EasyAce]

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/democrats-2016-strategy-gop-219957
Democrats draw plan to shatter the GOP

Funny, but there's a piece of me that thinks---considering their longtime friendship and his
prior donations---that Donald Trump is the Democrats' plan to shatter the Republicans,
whose lack of solid candidates with or without him makes them eminently shatterable, alas.

[NavyCanDo]

We are up against Hillary and Sanders, the best the Democrats could come up with.  This should be a Republican blowout, the largest landslide  in decades. Yet there is a very real probability that the Republicans with Trump as the nominee,  will not only lose, but get massacred, maybe even lose all 50 states, and the Senate.  That's what Trump is doing to our party, dismembering it. 

[ABX]

We are up against Hillary and Sanders, the best the Democrats could come up with.  This should be a Republican blowout, the largest landslide  in decades. Yet there is a very real probability that the Republicans with Trump as the nominee,  will not only lose, but get massacred, maybe even lose all 50 states, and the Senate.  That's what Trump is doing to our party, dismembering it.

Now imagine if they swap out Hillary for Bloomberg.

[truth_seeker]

We are up against Hillary and Sanders, the best the Democrats could come up with.  This should be a Republican blowout, the largest landslide  in decades. Yet there is a very real probability that the Republicans with Trump as the nominee,  will not only lose, but get massacred, maybe even lose all 50 states, and the Senate.  That's what Trump is doing to our party, dismembering it.

I understand the idea you are expressing. But Trump has no power unless he gets votes. That is his strength.

He fills stadiums, gets primary votes, and racks up top spot in polls. Therefore is is the ideas he expresses, contrasted with his opponents.

The largest political grouping today is "Independent." People have lost confidence in both parties.

He is appealing to their concerns. An innocent woman was murdered in sanctuary city-San Francisco by an illegal immigrant which the law enforcement system had failed to control, deport and keep out with an effective system of barriers.

He is addressing jobs lost as companies move plants and employment offshore.

Other Republicans also touch on these problems, but a lot of folks don't believe or trust them. Watching Rubio and Cruz use lawyer double-talk back and forth just reinforces the lack of trust.

Trump appeals to the Silent Majority. The Perot voters. The Reagan Democrats, and a whole lot of plain ordinary Republicans.

He talks about things they are concerned about.

[NavyCanDo]

I
The largest political grouping today is "Independent." People have lost confidence in both parties.

Therein lies the problem

Trump's Image Among Democrats, Independents Most Negative of Any GOP Candidate

INDEPENDENTS -27
DEMOCRATS -70

http://www.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/188177/trump-image-among-democrats-independents-negative-gop-candidate.aspx

So please explain again how Independents are going to flock to Trump.

[truth_seeker]

Therein lies the problem

Trump's Image Among Democrats, Independents Most Negative of Any GOP Candidate

INDEPENDENTS -27
DEMOCRATS -70

http://www.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/188177/trump-image-among-democrats-independents-negative-gop-candidate.aspx

So please explain again how Independents are going to flock to Trump.

Voter participation is about 55%

How Trump or other Republicans MUST win is by gaining a few points here and a few points there.

I realize it is up hill. But it is u hill for Cruz and Rubio, too.

If you go look at Real Clear Politics match ups the results show it is possible for any of those 3 to defeat Clinton or Sanders.

One thing is clear from the start: Trump and Sanders seem to have those intangible factors to keep moving up. Trump moreso than Sanders, thus far.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Democrats draw plan to shatter the GOP

And this is considered news exactly why?   It's what Democrats always do, and Republicans, apparently, continue to take the bait.

888ohnoes

[PzLdr]

They'll have to get in line. The GOP is drawing up plans to shatter the GOP.