Nationally, the Republican Party is about 80% conservative. The Democratic Party is about 40% conservative but, because of the smearing of the Republican brand, about 1/4 of these vote Democratic anyway, giving that party an effective 70% liberal tilt. Given the Democrats' recent mastery of getting-out-the-vote tactics, Republicans can no longer rely on greater conservative turnout to win national elections.
However, if all Republicans reregistered as Democrats, the Democratic Party would become 60% conservative and our government would reflect that change. This may sound like One Party Rule, but at least it would be a conservative party. The creation of a Third Party has not resulted in a Presidential election victory in 150 years,* and has no prospect of achieving that goal in the foreseeable future.
*The only reason Lincoln won (with 39% of the vote) in 1860 was because the Democrats nominated two Presidential candidates (Northern & Southern) that year, who split the Democratic vote. A similar Republican split in 1912 elected Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, and Ross Perot's conservative candidacy in 1992 helped Bill Clinton win with only 43% of the popular vote.
However, if all Republicans reregistered as Democrats, the Democratic Party would become 60% conservative and our government would reflect that change. This may sound like One Party Rule, but at least it would be a conservative party. The creation of a Third Party has not resulted in a Presidential election victory in 150 years,* and has no prospect of achieving that goal in the foreseeable future.
*The only reason Lincoln won (with 39% of the vote) in 1860 was because the Democrats nominated two Presidential candidates (Northern & Southern) that year, who split the Democratic vote. A similar Republican split in 1912 elected Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, and Ross Perot's conservative candidacy in 1992 helped Bill Clinton win with only 43% of the popular vote.
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