Perhaps Rick, but history shows that since 2000 that republicans have voted for their candidate/s 92% if the time while democrats have voted for their candidate/s 91% of the time. The only years which fell below those averages was in 2000 when 91% of republicans voted for Bush and 87% of democrats voted for Gore, 2004 when 89% of democrats voted for Kerry, 2008 when 90% of republicans voted for McCain, in 2016 when 89% of democrats voted for Clinton, 88% of republicans for Trump. All other elections both major parties voted for their candidate/s at least on average of 92% for the GOP and 91% for the democrats or above.

In 2020, 94% from both major parties voted for their candidates, Trump and Biden. The political reality is the base of both major parties vote the letter, not the candidate. This wasn’t true when one goes back further into history, pre 2000. Sure, a good majority voted the letter but that varied like in 1980 when only 67% of democrats voted for Carter or in 1984 when 74% of democrats voted for Mondale. But back in those years both major parties still had their conservative and liberal wings. That was in a completely different political era. By 2000 both major parties had gotten rid of their unwanted wings, the democrats of their conservative southern wing, the republican of their liberal Rockefeller liberal northeast wing. I can still remember when the northeast was fairly solid republican and the south totally solid democratic.

This year, the party break down with Harris having a 48-46 lead over Trump nationally is democrats 96% voting for Harris/1% for Trump. Republicans 92% for Trump/5% for Harris. The democrats are voting for their candidate above the historical average of 91%, the republicans are right on their historical average of 92%. Independents are now trending 41% Harris, 40% Trump, 7% third party candidates, Stein, West, Oliver etc. with 11% undecided.

Party affiliation/identification is even at 30% each for the major parties. But that’s another story for another day when on looks at the historical averages. Since we’ve entered today’s modern political era of polarization, the great divide, the super, mega, ultra-high partisanship era, independents have risen from 30% of the electorate up to 40% today.

Last edited by perotista; 09/26/24 01:17 PM.
It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.