Truths and Myths about the 2008 Election, Part III
3. PARTY LOYALTY MATTERS
Party loyalty is as strong as ever. Despite the incessant discussion of whether Obama could appeal to white working-class Democrats, and whether McCain could rally conservative Republicans, in the end party loyalty was as high as in 2004—that is, about 90%. Obama also won the votes of 85% of white Democrats. See the exit polls here.
Thus, this is very much a partisan, not a “post-partisan” election (see also this WSJ op-ed). Whether the Obama presidency lessens partisan divisions in this country depends more on how he governs. Post-partisanship is not an inexorable outcome of this election itself.
Comments
Indeed, I would submit that this is the biggest PARTISAN MANDATE we have seen in the USA since FDR.
Posted by: Matthew Shugart | November 9, 2008 01:59 PM