Politico: Democrats Still Need Blue-Collar Votes

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/democrats-still-need-blue-collar-votes-107622.html#.U5nqjHKwIn5




By MICHAEL PODHORZER June 10, 2014

Income inequality is having a moment in popular conversation — a conversation that is sadly 30 to 40 years in the making. But to the extent that inequality has entered the political discussion, it’s been as a policy issue.

What does the inequality mean for elections? Here’s an interesting finding from one of the AFL-CIO’s recent polls, a finding that illustrates a chasm in our politics on the basis of class.

When asked whether they agreed with the statement, “We need to make sure that all of us, not just the CEOs get their fair share in our economy,” 66 percent of those making less than $50,000 agreed, while only 26 percent of those making more agreed.

The kicker: That polling is among Republicans. That’s right, two-thirds of Republicans making less than $50,000 a year believe in the basic populist critique of our economy. And that’s not an outlier. Down the line, on economic quality-of-life issues, Republicans (and certainly independents) making less than $50,000 look more like Democrats than they look like Republicans.

FULL story at link.