Rove's strategies brought the Republicans unprecedented successes. But, now the weaknesses in his strategies are causing the Republicans' coalition to shatter.
Rove's strategies brought the Republicans unprecedented successes. But, now the weaknesses in his strategies are causing the Republicans' coalition to shatter.
Rove depended upon getting his base out, rather than appealing to the middle or trying to convince the opposition to vote Republican. That is why he would have Republicans run on issues like gay marriage, that sent smoke out of our ears, but got the religious fundamentalists flocking to the polls. With this strategy they barely made it over the 50% mark in the presidential race and had to rely on extraordinary redistricting to keep the majority in the House.
These policies limited the Republicans' ability to expand their base. They alienated too many people with their spewing of hatred and fear to garner more votes. Therefore, they have to retain solid allegiance from their base to keep the slim majority they now hold. They can not withstand a falling off of their base, because they can not add to it.
Then along came Foley and their most adherent base voters began to question them and are now expected to not vote in the numbers they have been. The Republicans can not withstand this hit. They have built a towering house, but it is a house of cards.