Dem Influence Set to Shrink to Coasts, Urban Areas

It looks like a case of back to the past for the two parties. The political map will likely shift after the elections, constricting Democratic influence to the east and west coasts and urban areas, Politico reports. That would take the parties back to the red-blue geographical divisions that prevailed after the 2004 elections.

Republicans are poised to increase their strength in the South, Midwest and rural areas. The GOP’s ascent is so strong that it may shrink the Democrats’ base to a smaller size than in 2005. Republican candidates have a good chance to make inroads in the Democratic strongholds of Washington, California, Oregon and Massachusetts.

“If we in fact lose a number of seats in the Midwest and South, then there are questions about the future of the party,” says former Texas Rep. Martin Frost, a onetime Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman.

“Clearly we have lost ground among white, middle-class voters. … That’s got to be turned around as a party because it’s very difficult to win the presidency just running on the two coasts.”