Source: Washington Post
by George F Will
“Until recently, presidential politics was significantly shaped by regional differences that were Civil War residues. In 1968, the Republicans’ ‘Southern strategy’ (following 25 years of steady gains in the South) facilitated victory in four of the next five, and five of the next seven, presidential elections. But in 2008, Barack Obama received a larger percentage of the nation’s White vote than Democratic nominees Michael S. Dukakis, Al Gore and John F. Kerry won in 1988, 2000 and 2004, respectively. In 2020, Donald Trump won at least 56 percent in 18 states but not in Florida (51.2), Texas (52.1) or South Carolina (55.1). Today, the nation has newer class-based and culture-fueled divisions, but is not happier for having somewhat transcended regionalism …” (05/03/24)