Southern Republicans met in New Orleans over the weekend to strengthen party cohesion, work on strategies for the 2010 and 2012 elections, and listen to an evaluate current and future party candidates and leaders. While the party has surged recently and is expected to do well in the midterm elections, questions still exist about the degree to which party activists are pulling the entire party (perhaps too far) to the right.
Even if this is a successful strategy in the short run, does it marginalize the party in the future? A party can't win elections consistently if it comprised mostly of conservative, older whites. They are motivated, and tend to turn out in droves, but they represent a shrinking percentage of the overall population. The (possible) irony is that if this group defines the national Republican Party, it may drive moderates away, especially if the economy begins to improve and if animosity about health care reform ebbs.
Some comments:
- Five lessons from GOP's Southern gathering
- Republicans' Southern Comforts
- Lessons From the Republican Leadership Conference
- Republicans predict November gains, blast Obama
