Midterm Elections in the South

This week, the Raleigh News and Observer has published a series of articles about the midterm elections. One article states what many here already know: Democrats need the South to win national elections. This article claims four Southern states are the best indicators of success.

If you want to understand why Democrats are the minority party in Congress, look at four states: Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky. Before the 1994 elections, when Democrats still controlled both chambers, these Southern states had 24 Democratic House members and 14 Republicans. Among senators, there were five Republicans and three Democrats. Look today. There are 24 GOP House members and 15 Democrats, and all eight senators are Republicans.

The story said the Democratic Party is attempting to refocus their strategy in the South by avoiding stereotypical images and divisive issues:

They hope to underscore that they do not fit stereotypes of Democrats as cultural liberals, and they hope to win voters with a mix of economic populism and traditional values. There is talk of raising the minimum wage and creating more jobs, but usually little about abortion or gun control.

This article is significant because it comments on a possible change in Southern political preference. While most of the South is still solidly Republican, there are a few races in Kentucky, Tennesse, Virginia, and North Carolina where the Republican hold may be loosening. If this article's four-state baramoter is correct, then both parties are going to need to rexamine thier strategies in the South.