Nappy Headed Black Child

Consider This

1860-1932 (72 years)

56 Republican Presidents

16 Democratic Presidents

1932-1980 (48 years)

32 Democratic President

16 Republican Presidents

Now what sparked the sudden change.....

The New Deal Coalition. Frankly, FDR was that dude and what he was able to do was form a winning coalition which allowed the Democrats to sorta even playing field and being more competitive electorally. 

This coalition consisted of The Democratic South (up until civil rights legislation from LBJ), African Americans, Union Members, Urban North, Immigrants/newer ethinc groups, Farmers, and Socialist Party voters (it was 1932 socialists mattered and they were church groups anyway). 

This coalition was solid up until LBJ pushed the civil rights legislation through congress and that lost the him the south (texas all the way to florida). And it eventually got crushed by Reagan's ridiculous popularity. 

Which leads me to my next point on why it is so hard to elect a Democratic president. Democrats have to win by coalition. The Hallmark of Republican politics is either get on the bus or get ran over. Which gives them an incredibly solid and loyal base. Their social conservatism appeals to certain minority groups that would otherwise vote democrat such as latinos due to their religious beliefs. Democrats have to walk a very thin line in Presidential elections becasue they have to satify the various groups that the republicans have disaffected. Now this may sound easy but one has to realize supporting one subset of issues may cause a candidate to alienate oneself to another set of issuse and thus those voters.

As an example, a lot of people like to talk about how Virginia is up for grabs in the current election. Due to electoral victories of Tim Kaine and what is seen as the eventual victory of Mark Warner. Now that makes sense until you consider the democratic strategy as far as electoral votes are concerned. Democrats want and to an extent need Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania which are very union heavy thus democrats are going to adopt a very pro union approach. However pro union politics are not in the best interests most Virginia voters add to the fact that it is a surprise that Virginia is up for grabs and that it is not as electorally valubale as the Union north so it not likely that their strategy changes...see how that coaltion can kinda throw a wrench in things.

Building a working coalition is essential to Democratic National victory. Good luck