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But the G.O.P. is a portrait of unity compared with the Democratic Party are grouped by color.
Democratic electorate. Democrats have been called a COMPETITIVENESS BLOC Also “New Democrats.” BLUE DOG BLOC More conservative
BLOCS WITHIN COALITIONS and their
collection of interest groups. Rather than the donkey, relative dominance are represented by Support free trade and market-based growth as on cultural issues. Working class
perhaps the cat, notoriously resistant to herding, would the size of individual donkey symbols. solution to poverty, inequality; corporate America is and populist on economic issues.
make a better symbol. O.K. Socially progressive; smitten with technology.
Here is an attempt to portray the major coalitions MAJOR COMMON INTERESTS among VOTERSRural Southern and
and blocs among Democrats, based on the views of several blocs are listed where donkeys overlap VOTERS Middle class, Midwestern moderates.
political experts, notably the nonpartisan analyst Stuart (darker shades). These are only white-collar workers.
some of the leading areas of MAJOR FIGURE Rep. Harold Ford Jr.
Rothenberg. A companion diagram of the G.O.P., first
published last year, is available at nytimes.com agreement; many other common MAJOR FIGURE of Tennessee
/weekinreview. BILL MARSH interests are not shown. Gov. Bill
Richardson
DEFENSE,
of New CULTURAL
SOCIAL Mexico ISSUES
MODERATE DEFENSE
BLOC SPENDING
VOTERS Party
stalwarts who
see issues in PRESERVING
class terms; MEDICARE,
SOCIAL Old Line Coalition
YELLOW DOG BLOC Extremely loyal; pro-little guy. OLDER VOTER BLOC
SECURITY
intense dislike of the G.O.P. Dedicated, reliable The rest of the core: bedrock Democrats whose aims
Nickname originated in 1920’s with party supporters. have remained consistent over many years. Support
the saying, “I'd vote for a yellow MAJOR FIGURE Furious over complex the continuation of New Deal agenda and government
dog if he ran on the Democratic Rep. Sherrod Medicare drug plan commitments. Differ with the Social Justice Coalition:
ticket!” (The nickname “Blue Dog Brown of Ohio and efforts to privatize Many are older; some church groups don’t support
Democrats” is a takeoff.) Social Security. liberal social causes like gay rights.
MORE PARTISAN Generally, the closer a group is to the outer edges of this chart, the more or less loyal it is to the Democratic Party. LESS PARTISAN
Sources: Stuart Rothenberg and Nathan L. Gonzales, The Rothenberg Political Report; The Cook Political Report; Celinda Lake; Andrew Kohut, Pew Research Center; David Bositis The New York Times